Chinese qualifier Zheng Qinwen staged another remarkable comeback at the 2026 US Open on Monday, overturning a 0-5 deficit in the first set to defeat six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-3 and advance to the quarter-finals. This victory follows closely on Zheng’s dramatic win against home favorite Madison Keys, where she also recovered from 0-5 down in the deciding set to secure the match.
Zheng’s resilience is emerging as one of the defining stories of the tournament, with her ability to erase large deficits attracting widespread attention. In both matches against Keys and Swiatek, Zheng won seven consecutive games from 0-5 down, an extraordinary feat not previously recorded at any major event. The 23-year-old Olympic gold medallist has demonstrated remarkable mental strength and composure, attributes she credits for her ability to stage such comebacks.
“I started the match really slow, that’s why she was able to lead 5-0,” Zheng said after the win over Swiatek. “After that, I started to play more freely and found my rhythm. At one point, I even lost track of the score because I was so focused on playing every point.” The former world No. 4 has battled back from a serious right elbow injury and subsequent surgery last year, which caused a significant drop in her ranking. Entering the US Open as a qualifier after falling to No. 121 in the world, Zheng has now won seven matches at Flushing Meadows and will face second seed Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals.
Swiatek, the 2022 US Open champion and one of the tournament favorites, struggled during the match as unforced errors mounted following her early lead. After losing control in the first set, Swiatek appeared visibly frustrated and emotional, breaking down in tears after the match. She cited difficulty connecting with the ball and did not attribute the loss primarily to mental factors. “I wouldn’t say it had anything to do with mentality. It was more that I started making mistakes from easy balls and Qinwen stopped making mistakes,” Swiatek remarked. She also acknowledged the challenge Zheng posed, saying, “If I were more solid than her, I would have won, but I wasn’t solid.”
Zheng’s previous victory over Swiatek came in the semi-finals of the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she also overcame a significant deficit and went on to win China’s first Olympic singles gold medal. The current run at the US Open illustrates her return to form after a challenging period marked by injuries and inconsistent performance.
Looking ahead, Zheng is preparing to face Rybakina, who defeated Naomi Osaka in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals. Zheng described Rybakina’s serve as her biggest weapon but emphasized focusing on her own game and energy for the upcoming match. The quarter-finals will also feature other notable players such as fifth seed Mirra Andreeva, who reached this stage for the first time.
Meanwhile, in the men’s draw, 28th seed Alexander Blockx advanced to his first Grand Slam quarter-final by defeating 24th seed Francisco Cerundolo. The US Open continues to deliver surprising narratives across both the women’s and men’s competitions.