Qinwen Zheng just absolutely stunned six-time grand slam champion Iga Swiatek at the US Open, pulling off a comeback from 0-5 down in a set for the second match in a row to punch her ticket to the quarter-finals. This isn’t just a win; it’s a statement, especially since Zheng also defeated Swiatek for the gold medal in Paris two years ago.
The “Forgot the Score” Mindset That Crushed Swiatek
Honestly, what Zheng just pulled off against the eighth seed, former US Open champion Swiatek, was insane. She was down 0-5 in the first set, staring at a total collapse. But then, boom, she reeled off seven games in a row to snatch that set. She kept that momentum rolling, converting the only break of serve in the second set to win 7-5, 6-3. Talk about pure grit! Zheng, who has now won seven matches in a row in New York, fell onto her back after converting her fourth match point, just pure exhaustion and elation. She even said she “forgot the score” at one point, which is wild, but it clearly shows her focus. Meanwhile, Swiatek, a former Wimbledon champion, left Arthur Ashe Stadium in tears. She racked up 28 errors, and her last five grand slam exits since winning Wimbledon in 2025 have all been in straight sets. This is a tough look for a top player.
From Injury to Unstoppable: The Road to the Quarter-Finals
This incredible run by Zheng isn’t a fluke, and it certainly wasn’t handed to her. She had to qualify just to get into the main draw of the US Open after missing a huge chunk of the 2025 season with an elbow injury. That pushed her all the way down to No. 121 in the rankings. But the comeback magic started even before Swiatek. In the third round, Zheng trailed Madison Keys, the 22nd seed and a former Australian Open champion, 0-5 and was facing match point in the third set! What did she do? She won seven consecutive games to win 1-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5. She literally pulled the exact same trick twice! “I guess to come back 0-5 yesterday is not lucky, that’s all I can say,” Zheng said, and you gotta believe her. She added, “I’m just really happy to win this match cause it’s not easy and it’s been a while really. I didn’t beat any top 10 player. I just really, really appreciated this win for me.” This is her third time reaching the US Open quarter-finals, and she looks absolutely unstoppable.
What’s next for Zheng? She’s set to face either second seed Elena Rybakina or 13th seed Naomi Osaka, a two-time US Open champion, in the quarter-finals. No matter who she plays, if Zheng can keep pulling these impossible comebacks, the rest of the field should be absolutely terrified.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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