Zheng Qinwen showcased a remarkable performance at the US Open, advancing to the quarter-finals after a stunning victory over Iga Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion. Despite Swiatek’s commanding start, racing to a 5-0 lead in the first set, Zheng turned the tide with an extraordinary comeback, claiming seven consecutive games to win the set 7-5. Continuing her momentum into the second set, Zheng secured a 6-3 win, marking one of the most significant triumphs of her career.
This victory is particularly noteworthy as it mirrors Zheng’s previous round against Madison Keys, where she similarly rallied from a 5-0 deficit in the deciding set to win seven straight games. Zheng’s journey in the tournament has been impressive, especially considering her recent struggles with consistency due to an elbow injury and subsequent surgery that had dropped her ranking to No. 160 earlier this year. Starting the US Open from the qualifying rounds, the 23-year-old, who had claimed Olympic gold in Paris and reached the 2024 Australian Open final, is now a formidable contender in New York.
In the upcoming quarter-finals, Zheng will face the second seed Elena Rybakina. Rybakina secured her spot in the last eight with a dominant 6-1, 6-4 victory over Naomi Osaka, a two-time US Open champion. Displaying powerful and consistent tennis, Rybakina hit 29 winners in just 66 minutes, while Osaka struggled with her serve and was hindered by Achilles pain.
Elsewhere in the tournament, fifth seed Mirra Andreeva also made headlines by reaching the US Open quarter-finals for the first time. She overcame Austria’s Anastasia Potapova with a hard-fought 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory, further highlighting the thrilling competition at this year’s event.