Qinwen Zheng produced a second epic comeback in as many days at the US Open to shock former champion Iga Swiatek and book her place in the quarter-finals for a third time.
Two days after saving match point while trailing 5-0 in the third set against Madison Keys, Zheng staged another incredible fightback on Arthur Ashe.
Swiatek won the first five games, but Zheng simply refused to back down, winning the next seven games to clinch the first set before overpowering her shellshocked opponent and completing an astonishing 7-5, 6-3 victory.
A stunned Swiatek never recovered, and the 2022 champion succumbed in straight sets, 7-5 6-3, leaving the court in tears after her campaign unravelled in unthinkable fashion.
The former world No. 4 from China, who had come through qualifying after being sidelined by a long-term elbow injury, became the first qualifier to reach the quarter-finals since Emma Raducanu won the tournament in 2021.
Zheng’s reward is a last-eight tie against either Naomi Osaka or Elena Rybakina.
Qinwen Zheng, of China, celebrates after winning a match against Iga Swiatek, of Poland, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Zheng revels in being back on the big stage.
“I started the match not so well but I found my rhythm,” Zheng said.
“It has been a long, long time since I played on a centre court and I sincerely appreciate being here at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“I took it point by point and little by little I started to play better and find my game.
“I even forgot the score at 4-5 in the first set, which showed I was focused. To come back from 0-5 is not lucky, that’s all I can say.”
Qinwen Zheng, US Open (Associated Press)
‘One of the great comebacks’
“It’s a straight-set win but it’s one of the great comebacks. Go figure. How’s that possible? Zheng made it happen.
“Two games in a row, 5-0 down in sets. She got the win against Madison Keys to take the first set today, before completing victory against Swiatek for only the second time in her career.
“The Chinese dream lives on as the qualifier makes it into the final eight.”
Potapova in tears after late injury in Andreeva defeat
Anastasia Potapova was in tears as her time in New York came to an end.
The 25-year-old Austrian won the first set against fifth seed Mirra Andreeva, but, at 5-3 down in the third, she badly twisted her knee chasing a forehand down.
Potapova had the knee heavily strapped up and bravely finished the match but did not win another point as French Open champion Andreeva triumphed 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.
“Anastasia is a good friend, and seeing what a battle we have and then seeing her fall is not easy,” said Russian teenager Andreeva.
“It’s not the way you want to finish the match. I just told her she is playing amazingly, and I’m sure she’ll come back even stronger; she’s a warrior.
Make sure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google searches by adding us as a favourite source. Click here to activate. Or you can add us as your preferred source in your Google Search settings.
