Zheng Qinwen delivered a stunning performance at the US Open, overcoming six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek with a 7-5, 6-3 victory to advance to the quarter-finals. Swiatek initially seemed to have the match in hand, quickly building a 5-0 lead in the first set. However, Zheng dramatically turned the tide, capturing seven consecutive games to seize the set. Her momentum carried into the second set, where she secured one of the most significant triumphs of her career.
This comeback win is particularly noteworthy as it mirrored Zheng’s previous round against Madison Keys, where she also overturned a 5-0 deficit in the deciding set to claim victory by winning seven straight games. Zheng’s journey to this point has been challenging, battling inconsistency due to an elbow injury and subsequent surgery that had dropped her ranking to as low as No. 160 earlier in the year. Starting the US Open through the qualifying rounds, the 23-year-old has defied odds, rekindling her form that once saw her clinch Olympic gold in Paris and reach the 2024 Australian Open final. With seven consecutive wins in New York, she is reasserting herself as a formidable contender in the tournament.
In the upcoming quarter-finals, Zheng is set to face second seed Elena Rybakina. Rybakina secured her spot in the last eight with an impressive 6-1, 6-4 victory over Naomi Osaka, a two-time US Open champion. Rybakina showcased her dominance with a powerful and consistent game, registering 29 winners in merely 66 minutes. Meanwhile, Osaka struggled with her serve and was hindered by Achilles pain, which affected her performance.
Elsewhere in the tournament, fifth seed Mirra Andreeva made her way to the US Open quarter-finals for the first time. She triumphed over Austria’s Anastasia Potapova in a hard-fought match, winning with scores of 5-7, 6-4, 6-3. The competition continues to unfold with these significant developments, as players strive to make their mark in one of tennis’ most prestigious events.