Qinwen Zheng mounted a remarkable fightback at the US Open on Monday, recovering from a 5-0 deficit in the opening set to defeat sixth-time major champion Iga Świątek 7-5, 6-3 on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The former world No. 4 from China continued a brilliant run at Flushing Meadows by winning seven consecutive games to claim the first set before overpowering her opponent in the second.
Stunning US Open Comeback Secures Quarter-Final Berth
Świątek, the 2022 US Open champion, raced to a dominant 5-0 lead in the match and held multiple set points at 5-1 and 5-3. However, Zheng simply refused to roll over, steadily finding her range on return while Świątek struggled to raise her level under mounting pressure. Zheng noted after the match that her ability to turn the deficit around was rooted in pure concentration, stating, I guess to come back again from 0-5, that’s not lucky.
The victory marks Zheng’s seventh consecutive win in New York. Having battled a chronic elbow injury that dropped her ranking and forced her to come through the qualifying rounds, Zheng has advanced to the quarter-finals at the tournament for the third time. She is the first qualifier to reach this stage of the women’s draw since Great Britain’s Emma Raducanu won the title in 2021, according to BBC reports.
Medical Timeout and Second-Set Decider
The intensity of the fourth-round clash took a physical toll as the match progressed. Świątek received treatment on her left thigh during a medical timeout after taking a 2-1 lead in the second set. The pause provided a temporary stabilizer, allowing the Polish star to earn two break points while the set was locked at 3-3.
Zheng expertly staved off both break points on her second serve before launching a deep return and a backhand winner down the line to break Świątek’s serve. That pivotal game drained the remaining momentum from Świątek, who grew visibly frustrated as unforced errors mounted in her baseline game. Zheng ultimately sealed the straight-sets victory when Świątek hit a ball into the net on match point.
Little by little I found my rhythm on the center court,
Zheng said in an on-court interview. It’s been a long time since I played on a center court… I just focused point by point, little by little I started to play better tennis.
Swiatek’s Season Ends Without a Major
For Świątek, the fourth-round exit brings a disappointing close to her Grand Slam campaign. Having worked with new coach Francisco Roig—appointed in April 2026 following a split with Wim Fissette—Świątek had stabilized her baseline tempo and secured a Toronto title win prior to New York. Yet, her ongoing struggles with her service game proved costly against Zheng’s relentless baseline pressure.
The loss marks the first time since 2021 that Świątek will finish a calendar year without capturing at least one of tennis’s four major titles. Her best Grand Slam result of the season remains a quarter-final appearance at the Australian Open, preceded by a fourth-round exit at the French Open and a third-round defeat at Wimbledon.
Next Steps in New York
With the victory secured, Zheng advances to face her next opponent in the quarter-finals. That last-eight showdown will pit her against either former US Open champion Naomi Osaka or second seed Elena Rybakina.
