In a stunning display of resilience at the US Open, Zheng Qinwen orchestrated a remarkable comeback to defeat Iga Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, with scores of 7-5, 6-3, advancing to the quarter-finals. Initially, Swiatek seemed to dominate, rapidly securing a 5-0 lead in the first set. However, Zheng shifted the dynamics dramatically, overturning the initial deficit by clinching seven consecutive games to secure the set. Her momentum continued into the second set, where she maintained her competitive edge to achieve one of the most significant wins of her career.
This victory is even more striking given that Zheng had performed a similar comeback against Madison Keys in the previous round. Against Keys, she faced a daunting 5-0 deficit in the deciding set but rallied to win seven straight games. Zheng’s journey in the tournament is notable as she entered while grappling with inconsistency caused by an elbow injury and subsequent surgery, which had previously dropped her ranking to No. 160. She began her campaign in New York through the qualifying rounds.
The 23-year-old athlete, who has previously won Olympic gold in Paris and reached the finals of the 2024 Australian Open, has now amassed seven consecutive victories at the US Open, establishing herself once again as a formidable competitor. Zheng’s next challenge will be against the second seed, Elena Rybakina, in the quarter-finals. Rybakina secured her spot in the last eight with a commanding 6-1, 6-4 win over Naomi Osaka, a two-time US Open champion.
Rybakina showcased her formidable skills with a powerful and consistent performance, registering 29 winners in just 66 minutes of play. Osaka faced difficulties with her serve and was further hampered by Achilles pain during the match. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the tournament, Mirra Andreeva, the fifth seed, reached the US Open quarter-finals for the first time after overcoming Austria’s Anastasia Potapova with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory.