US Open 2026: Zheng Qinwen Stuns Iga Swiatek in Incredible Comeback

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen produced another remarkable comeback at the US Open, overturning a 5-0 deficit in the opening set to stun six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-3 and reach the quarter-finals on Monday, September 7.

As reported by CNA, the victory marked another gritty performance from the Chinese star, who was once ranked No. 4 in the world but has fallen to No. 121 after undergoing elbow surgery last year. Zheng has now mounted back-to-back comebacks at Flushing Meadows, having won the final seven games to defeat Madison Keys in her previous match.

Against Swiatek, Zheng again found a way back after a slow start, reeling off seven consecutive games after falling 5-0 behind in the first set. She then broke the Polish former world No. 1 twice in the second set to seal the victory.

Zheng had also defeated Swiatek in the gold-medal match at the Paris Olympics two years ago.

“I would say I start the match really slow. That's why she's able to lead 5-0,” Zheng said, as reported by CNA. “After that, I start to play more freely because I think I need to try to find my rhythm at least for the second set.”

“I think that's the key for me to come back. I didn't expect that today, but somehow it's just happening again,” she added.

As her rhythm improved, Zheng became so absorbed in each point that she even lost track of the score during the first set.

“At 4-5 I went to the towel, because I thought it was 3-5, and I thought I need to play one more game,” Zheng said.

“But when I saw the scoreboard, I was, like, oh, 4-5, I need to go to my place to sit down.”

“I was so focusing every single point, I just said, OK, this ball have to play here, that ball there, next point, just keep repeating,” she added.

Zheng saved three set points in the opening set before completing her comeback.

She had already made history by becoming the first qualifier to reach the US Open women's fourth round since Emma Raducanu in 2021. Raducanu went on to win the title that year.

Zheng will next face world No. 2 Elena Rybakina, who comfortably defeated two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-4.

Zheng Faces Rybakina in Quarter-finals

Rybakina leads Zheng 4-1 in their head-to-head record and has won both of their meetings this year, in Doha and Madrid.

The quarter-final will carry additional significance for Rybakina, who is guaranteed to become world No. 1 if she reaches the semi-finals.

For Zheng, meanwhile, the tournament represents an opportunity to continue her climb back toward the top 10 after a difficult period following her injury.

The Chinese player acknowledged that accepting her dramatic fall in the rankings has been psychologically difficult.

“Psychologically it is very difficult to accept,” Zheng said. “I used to be top 10, Olympic champion.”

“It is really, really tough process. I suffered a lot, and I have been through a lot of pain every single loss I have,” she added.

Swiatek Suffers Another Grand Slam Disappointment

Swiatek left the court in tears after suffering another disappointing early exit at a Grand Slam.

The Polish star won her most recent major title at Wimbledon last year but has struggled to replicate that success since. She was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in January, exited the French Open in the fourth round and lost in the third round of her Wimbledon title defence.

Against Zheng, Swiatek said she struggled with her timing and was unable to find her best level.

“I didn't have good timing,” Swiatek said. “I wasn't hitting the ball right.”

“Maybe I could have played more safe or something, but I also didn't feel like I had space with Qinwen to do that,” she added.

Read: Alexander Zverev Battles Into US Open Third Round After Five-Set Win

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