Zheng Qinwen Turns 0-5 Into a US Open Win
Tuesday, 2026/09/08180 words3 minutes502 reads
Zheng Qinwen reached the US Open quarterfinals after a 7-5, 6-3 win over Iga Swiatek on September 7. The Chinese player was 0-5 down in the first set after 23 minutes. She then won seven consecutive games to take the set 7-5 before winning the second set.
Two days earlier, Zheng had made a similar recovery against Madison Keys. She lost the first set 6-1 and later trailed 0-5 in the deciding set. Zheng saved a match point, won the last seven games and completed a 1-6, 7-6(3), 7-5 victory.
Zheng's run is notable because she entered the tournament through qualifying. She missed the 2025 US Open because of a right elbow injury, and her ranking later fell to world No. 121. The US Open said she is the first female qualifier to reach its quarterfinals since Emma Raducanu won the title in 2021.
Before this match, Zheng had beaten Swiatek only once in eight meetings. That victory came at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Zheng went on to win gold. Her next opponent is No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina.
