In a dramatic third-round upset at the US Open on Saturday, China’s Zheng Qinwen rallied from a five-game deficit to defeat No. 22 seed Madison Keys in three sets, 1-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5. Zheng, who entered the tournament ranked No. 121 after returning from elbow surgery and having to qualify for the main draw, won the last seven games of the match to complete the comeback.

Keys, a 2017 US Open runner-up and 2025 Australian Open champion, took an early lead and surged to 5-0 in the third set. However, after failing to convert a match point while serving at 5-1, the momentum shifted. She expressed frustration after the loss, saying she “got really scared” and “couldn’t swing,” adding that tennis suddenly “felt really hard” during the match. Zheng credited persistence and mental focus, saying she told herself to “keep holding every single point, never give up,” which eventually led to her victory.

Zheng, who won gold for China at the 2024 Olympics and reached the Australian Open final in the same year, will next face two-time US Open champion Iga Swiatek.

In other notable results on Saturday, 13th-seeded Naomi Osaka advanced to the fourth round with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 win over Elise Mertens in a match lasting nearly two hours and 40 minutes. The two-time US Open champion from Japan appeared stunned by her hard-fought victory.

Men’s No. 9 seed Taylor Fritz suffered an unexpected defeat after losing to No. 24 Francisco Cerundolo in five sets, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Fritz had won his first two rounds convincingly and held a two-set lead, but Cerundolo rallied back at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where he found his footing as the match progressed.

Another former US Open finalist, Amanda Anisimova, seeded 10th, was ousted by No. 24 Anastasia Potapova in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5. Potapova, who was born in Russia but now represents Austria, converted six of eight break points and matched her best Grand Slam performance by reaching the fourth round. Anisimova had previously reached the US Open and Wimbledon finals in 2025 but was unable to capitalize on multiple break opportunities in this match.

Among men’s seeds, No. 5 Flavio Cobolli, the 2025 French Open runner-up, was defeated in four sets by No. 28 Alexander Blockx, leaving the men’s draw notably depleted of several top 10 seeds.

On the women’s side, 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Cristina Bucsa. She will face Iva Jovic, who won a tightly contested match against Alexandra Eala, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5. Gauff reflected on her growing experience at Grand Slam events, stating that reaching the third round felt routine, symbolizing her adaptation to the demands of the tournament.

The US Open continues to feature a mix of established stars and emerging talent as the tournament progresses to the latter stages.