Zheng Qinwen staged a remarkable comeback at the US Open, toppling six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek with a 7-5, 6-3 victory to secure a spot in the quarter-finals. Initially, Swiatek seemed to have the upper hand, surging to a 5-0 lead in the first set. However, Zheng shifted the momentum dramatically by winning seven consecutive games to claim the set. She continued her aggressive play into the second set, sealing one of the most significant wins of her career.
This victory is particularly noteworthy as it mirrors Zheng’s previous round performance against Madison Keys, where she also overturned a 5-0 deficit in the deciding set to win seven straight games. Despite battling an elbow injury and undergoing surgery that caused her ranking to plummet to No. 160 earlier this year, Zheng has displayed resilience. Starting the US Open from the qualifying rounds, the 23-year-old, who also has an Olympic gold from Paris and a runner-up finish at the 2024 Australian Open to her name, is now proving to be a formidable contender in New York.
In the quarter-finals, Zheng is set to face second seed Elena Rybakina, who advanced with a commanding 6-1, 6-4 win over two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka. Rybakina dominated her match with powerful and consistent play, delivering 29 winners in just 66 minutes. Osaka, on the other hand, struggled with her serve and was hindered by Achilles pain, which affected her performance.
Meanwhile, the US Open also saw fifth seed Mirra Andreeva progress to the quarter-finals for the first time in her career. She achieved this milestone by defeating Austria’s Anastasia Potapova with a scoreline of 5-7, 6-4, 6-3. Andreeva’s advance adds another layer of excitement to a tournament that continues to surprise and captivate fans worldwide.