Zheng Qinwen staged an impressive comeback at the US Open, overcoming Iga Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, with a 7-5, 6-3 victory to advance to the quarter-finals. Swiatek initially appeared dominant, securing a 5-0 lead in the first set. However, Zheng shifted the momentum dramatically, winning seven successive games to claim the set. Her momentum continued in the second set, leading to one of her most significant career wins.
This victory is particularly notable as Zheng had previously made a similar comeback against Madison Keys in the earlier round. In that match, Keys had also been leading 5-0 in the deciding set before Zheng clinched seven games in a row. Despite entering the tournament with consistency issues due to an elbow injury and subsequent surgery, which had seen her ranking drop to No. 160 earlier in the year, Zheng has showcased remarkable resilience. She began her US Open journey from the qualifying rounds.
The 23-year-old athlete, who holds an Olympic gold medal from Paris and was a finalist in the 2024 Australian Open, has now accumulated seven wins in New York, marking her as a formidable contender. Awaiting her in the quarter-finals is the second seed Elena Rybakina, who secured her spot with a decisive 6-1, 6-4 win over Naomi Osaka, a two-time US Open champion.
Rybakina commanded her match with powerful and consistent play, delivering 29 winners in just 66 minutes. In comparison, Osaka faced challenges with her serve and was hindered by Achilles pain. Meanwhile, fifth seed Mirra Andreeva made it to the US Open quarter-finals for the first time, defeating Austria’s Anastasia Potapova 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.
