Zheng Qinwen produced another extraordinary comeback at the US Open, recovering from 5-0 down in the opening set to defeat former champion Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-3 and reach the quarter-finals. The Chinese qualifier repeated a feat she achieved just two days earlier, extending one of the most remarkable runs of the tournament.
Playing on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Zheng trailed heavily early against the eighth seed. Swiatek raced through the first five games in dominant fashion. Yet Zheng steadied herself, saved multiple set points, and reeled off seven consecutive games to claim the set. She then controlled the second set, breaking Swiatek’s serve at key moments to complete a straight-sets victory.
A Rare and Remarkable Double
This was the second successive match in which Zheng had erased a 5-0 deficit. In the third round she trailed Madison Keys by the same score in the deciding set before winning seven games in a row to advance. Repeating the recovery against a six-time Grand Slam champion elevated the achievement further.
Zheng, the reigning Olympic champion and a former world No. 4, has rebuilt her form after elbow surgery in July 2025. Ranked outside the top 100 earlier this year, she navigated three rounds of qualifying to reach the main draw. She has now won seven matches in a row in New York and will return close to the top 50 in the rankings.
“The more matches I play, the more rhythm I have on court,” Zheng said afterwards. “People have asked me if I’m tired and when I arrived I was not tired at all. I felt really pumped for my match, trying to reach better levels here and enjoy this fantastic stadium.”
How the Match Turned
Swiatek appeared firmly in control after racing to a 5-0 lead. She created three set points but failed to convert them as Zheng began to find her range. The Chinese player’s powerful groundstrokes and improved consistency forced errors from the Pole. Once Zheng seized the momentum, she refused to relinquish it.
In the second set the score remained on serve until the seventh game. Zheng produced a sharp backhand return winner to secure the crucial break. She broke again later to close out the match 6-3. Swiatek took a medical timeout mid-set for attention to her left thigh but was unable to regain the initiative.
Reflecting on the collapse from 5-0 up, Swiatek admitted she began missing too many shots. “My focus was the same as always,” she said. “I wanted to play the same as always. I just started to miss too much, wanted to adjust it, but nothing kind of worked at that point.”
Context of Zheng’s Resurgence
Zheng’s path to this stage of the US Open has been anything but straightforward. The elbow injury and subsequent surgery interrupted a promising career trajectory. Returning through qualifying required both physical recovery and mental resilience. Her ability to stay composed when trailing heavily has defined her fortnight in New York.
She becomes the first women’s qualifier to reach the US Open quarter-finals since Emma Raducanu’s title-winning run in 2021. This marks Zheng’s third appearance in the last eight at Flushing Meadows and her fifth Grand Slam quarter-final overall.
Her next opponent will be second seed Elena Rybakina, who advanced with a straightforward win over former champion Naomi Osaka. The matchup presents another significant challenge, yet Zheng’s current form and fighting spirit make her a dangerous proposition for any opponent.
Broader Implications at the US Open
Swiatek entered the tournament as one of the favourites after claiming the Canadian Open title and reaching the semi-finals in Cincinnati. Her early exit removes a major contender and opens the bottom half of the draw. For Zheng, the result confirms that her best tennis remains capable of troubling the elite even after a difficult period.
The ability to recover from seemingly lost positions twice in the space of three days is rare at this level. Few players manage such turnarounds against quality opposition once, let alone against two Grand Slam champions in consecutive matches. Zheng’s focus and belief under pressure have stood out throughout the tournament.
As the US Open continues into the quarter-finals, Zheng’s story remains one of the most compelling of the fortnight. From outside the top 100 and through three qualifying rounds to a last-eight place after stunning a multiple major winner, she has rewritten expectations. The tennis world will now watch closely to see how far her momentum can carry her.
