Zheng Qinwen delivered a stunning performance at the US Open by overcoming six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek in a remarkable comeback, winning 7-5, 6-3, to secure her spot in the quarter-finals. Swiatek initially seemed to have the match under control with a commanding 5-0 lead in the first set, but Zheng shifted the momentum dramatically by clinching seven straight games to take the set. She carried her momentum into the second set, sealing one of the most significant victories of her career.
This victory is particularly noteworthy as it mirrors Zheng’s resilience in the previous round against Madison Keys. Keys had similarly led 5-0 in the deciding set before Zheng pulled off another impressive comeback by winning seven consecutive games. Zheng’s journey at the US Open has been remarkable, considering her earlier struggles with consistency due to an elbow injury and surgery that had dropped her ranking to as low as No. 160 earlier in the year. Despite these setbacks, she began the tournament from the qualifying rounds.
The 23-year-old athlete, who previously won Olympic gold in Paris and was a finalist at the 2024 Australian Open, has now triumphed in seven matches in New York, re-establishing herself as a formidable contender. In the quarter-finals, Zheng is set to face the tournament’s second seed, Elena Rybakina, who secured her position in the last eight with a decisive 6-1, 6-4 victory over Naomi Osaka, a two-time US Open champion.
Rybakina showcased her dominance with powerful and consistent play, managing to hit 29 winners in just 66 minutes. Meanwhile, Osaka struggled with her serve and was hampered by Achilles pain, impacting her performance. In other matches, fifth seed Mirra Andreeva advanced to the US Open quarter-finals for the first time by defeating Austria’s Anastasia Potapova 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.
