Zheng Qinwen staged a remarkable comeback at the US Open, defeating the formidable Iga Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, with a scoreline of 7-5, 6-3, to secure her spot in the quarter-finals. Despite Swiatek’s strong start, leading 5-0 in the first set, Zheng turned the match around by clinching seven consecutive games to take the set. Her momentum carried into the second set, resulting in one of the most significant victories of her career.
This victory follows a similar pattern to Zheng’s previous match against Madison Keys, where she also rebounded from a 5-0 deficit in the deciding set to win seven games straight. Zheng’s performance is particularly noteworthy given her recent struggles with consistency due to an elbow injury and subsequent surgery, which had plummeted her ranking to No. 160 earlier this year. Despite these setbacks, she began her US Open journey through qualifying rounds and has since won seven matches in New York, reestablishing herself as a formidable contender.
The 23-year-old, who has already achieved notable success with an Olympic gold in Paris and a runner-up finish at the 2024 Australian Open, will now face second seed Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals. Rybakina secured her quarter-final berth with a dominant 6-1, 6-4 victory over two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka. Displaying powerful and consistent play, Rybakina hit 29 winners in just 66 minutes, while Osaka struggled with her serve and was hampered by Achilles pain.
Elsewhere in the tournament, fifth seed Mirra Andreeva advanced to the US Open quarter-finals for the first time, overcoming Austria’s Anastasia Potapova with a hard-fought 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 win. As the competition intensifies, the remaining players continue to vie for a place in the semi-finals, with each match bringing new surprises and thrilling comebacks, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the sport.
