Zheng Qinwen staged an impressive comeback at the US Open, overcoming six-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek with a 7-5, 6-3 victory to advance to the quarter-finals. Initially, Swiatek appeared dominant, racing to a 5-0 lead in the first set. However, Zheng dramatically turned the tide by claiming seven consecutive games to capture the set and maintained her momentum to clinch the match in the second set. This triumph marks one of the most significant wins of her career.
This result is particularly noteworthy given Zheng’s similar comeback against Madison Keys in the previous round, where Keys also led 5-0 in the deciding set before Zheng took control by winning seven straight games. Zheng’s performance in the tournament has been remarkable, especially considering her earlier struggles with consistency due to an elbow injury and subsequent surgery, which saw her ranking plummet to No. 160 earlier in the year. Starting her US Open journey in the qualifying rounds, the 23-year-old who secured Olympic gold in Paris and reached the 2024 Australian Open final, has now secured seven victories in New York, re-establishing herself as a formidable contender.
Looking ahead, Zheng will face second seed Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals. Rybakina secured her spot in the last eight with a strong 6-1, 6-4 win over two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka. Rybakina’s powerful and consistent play was evident as she hit 29 winners in just 66 minutes, while Osaka faced challenges with her serve and was hindered by Achilles pain.
In other matches, fifth seed Mirra Andreeva reached the US Open quarter-finals for the first time, defeating Austria’s Anastasia Potapova with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory. As the tournament progresses, the competition intensifies, with players like Zheng and Rybakina showcasing their prowess and determination to claim the prestigious title.