US Open: Zheng stuns Swiatek after another 5-0 comeback

n n

China’s Qinwen Zheng celebrates defeating Poland’s Iga Swiatek in their women’s singles round of 16 tennis match on day nine of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on September 7, 2026. (Photo by KENA BETANCUR / AFP)

n

By Adegboyega Adeleye

n

China’s Qinwen Zheng produced another remarkable fightback at the US Open, recovering from 5-0 down to stun former champion Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-3 and reach the quarter-finals.

n

Zheng, who had also overturned a 5-0 deficit against Madison Keys in the deciding set of her previous match, extended her winning run in New York to seven matches after coming through three qualifying rounds.

n

The 23-year-old was again facing elimination after Swiatek raced into a 5-0 lead on Arthur Ashe Stadium, but Zheng won seven of the next eight games to take the opening set.

n

She then broke Swiatek twice in the second set, including with a powerful backhand return winner, to complete another stunning comeback and reach the US Open quarter-finals for the third time.

n

Swiatek, the 2022 US Open champion and eighth seed, could not recover as Zheng continued her remarkable resurgence following a difficult period that included elbow surgery in July 2025.

n

The Olympic champion had dropped outside the world’s top 100 earlier this year after struggling to regain her best form.

n

According to the BBC, Zheng will face either Naomi Osaka or Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals.

n

“The more matches I play, the more rhythm I have on court,” Zheng said.

n

“People have asked me if I’m tired and when I arrived I was not tired at all. I felt really pumped for my match, trying to reach better levels here and enjoy this fantastic stadium.”

n

The victory will move Zheng back to the brink of the world’s top 50 after her ranking fell as low as 121 following her injury struggles.

n

Meanwhile, French Open champion Mirra Andreeva reached the US Open quarter-finals for the first time after recovering to beat Austria’s Anastasia Potapova 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.

n n