Zheng Qinwen delivered yet another stunning comeback at the US Open, defeating six-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek with a score of 7-5, 6-3, to secure a spot in the quarter-finals. Swiatek initially appeared dominant, swiftly taking a 5-0 lead in the first set. However, Zheng managed to shift the momentum dramatically, winning seven consecutive games to capture the set. Her relentless performance continued into the second set, culminating in one of the most significant victories of her career.
This remarkable triumph was reminiscent of Zheng’s previous round performance against Madison Keys, where she also overcame a 5-0 deficit in the decisive set to win seven straight games. Zheng’s journey in this tournament is all the more impressive given her recent challenges with consistency, after an elbow injury and subsequent surgery caused her ranking to plummet to No. 160 earlier this year. Starting her US Open campaign through the qualifying rounds, Zheng has now won seven matches in New York, re-establishing herself as a formidable contender.
The 23-year-old, who has already claimed Olympic gold in Paris and reached the final of the 2024 Australian Open, is set to face second seed Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals. Rybakina secured her quarter-final berth with a commanding 6-1, 6-4 victory over Naomi Osaka, a two-time US Open champion. During the match, Rybakina displayed powerful and consistent tennis, achieving 29 winners in just 66 minutes. Osaka struggled with her serve and was hampered by Achilles pain during the encounter.
Elsewhere in the tournament, fifth seed Mirra Andreeva has also reached the US Open quarter-finals for the first time. She advanced by defeating Austria’s Anastasia Potapova 5-7, 6-4, 6-3. These developments add an intriguing layer to the tournament, as both Zheng and Andreeva continue to make their mark on this year’s US Open stage.