At the US Open opening on Monday, Chinese tennis player Zheng Qinwen demonstrated an impressive comeback, managing to recover from a 0-5 deficit in the first set and defeating eighth seed Iga Świątek with a score of 7-5, 6-3. This victory allowed her to advance to the women's singles quarterfinals.
Świątek, the 2022 US Open champion, dominated the start of the match on Arthur Ashe Court, quickly taking a 5-0 lead in just 23 minutes. However, Zheng managed to change the momentum, holding three service games and winning seven consecutive games to clinch the first set 7-5.
The Chinese qualifier maintained her pace in the second set, breaking Świątek's serve and gaining a 4-3 advantage, before concluding the match in one hour and 56 minutes.
This success marks the second consecutive match where Zheng has managed to come back from a 0-5 position to win a set. Previously, in the third round, the 23-year-old Zheng saved match point and then won the last seven games of the deciding set to defeat Madison Keys with a score of 1-6, 7-6(3), 7-5.
Zheng's victory over Świątek is her second success in nine matches against the six-time Grand Slam champion. Her previous victory was achieved in the semi-finals of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The result also signifies another step in Zheng's recovery from a right elbow injury that required surgery last year. The 2024 Olympic champion dropped to 121st in the rankings due to the break for injury and was forced to play three qualifying rounds to enter the main draw of the US Open.
Zheng is now the first qualifier to reach the US Open quarterfinals since Emma Raducanu's victory in 2021. This is her third appearance at the tournament in the last eight years at Flushing Meadows and her fifth quarterfinal appearance in a Grand Slam overall.
Next, she will face second seed Elena Rybakina for a spot in the US Open semi-finals. Rybakina previously defeated two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka with a score of 6-1, 6-4 in the fourth round.