Zheng Qinwen pulled off another miraculous comeback at the US Open on Monday, erasing a 5-0 first-set deficit to defeat No. 8 seed Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-3 and advance to the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows.
The 2024 Olympic gold medalist from China became the first qualifier to reach the final eight since Emma Raducanu won the title in 2021. More remarkably, this marked Zheng's second consecutive match where she fought back from a 5-0 hole.
Just two days earlier, Zheng was down 5-0 in the third set against No. 22 Madison Keys before winning the final seven games to complete a stunning 1-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5 victory. Against Swiatek, the 2022 US Open champion, Zheng quickly dropped the first five games before mounting her latest escape act.
"I guess to come back 0-5 yesterday is not lucky, that's all I can say," Zheng said after the match.
Swiatek appeared to have the match well in hand, serving for the first set at 5-1 with two set points. But she couldn't convert either opportunity, and Zheng fought off another set point when Swiatek served with a 5-3 lead. The Chinese player said she was so focused on each point that she even forgot the score during her comeback.
The victory sends Zheng back to familiar territory at the US Open. She reached the quarterfinals in both 2023 and 2024, establishing herself as a consistent threat at the year's final Grand Slam. However, this year's path proved more challenging after elbow surgery forced her to go through qualifying just to reach the main draw.
Zheng's qualifier status makes her achievement even more impressive. Raducanu's title run five years ago made her the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam, and now Zheng has matched that feat of reaching the quarterfinals from the qualifying rounds.
The straight-sets victory over Swiatek represents one of the biggest upsets of the tournament so far. Swiatek, who captured the US Open title in 2022, entered as the eighth seed and was expected to make a deep run in New York. Instead, she becomes the latest high-profile casualty of Zheng's remarkable comeback ability.
Zheng's mental fortitude has become the story of her US Open campaign. Facing seemingly insurmountable deficits in back-to-back matches, she has found ways to flip the script and turn certain defeat into victory. Her ability to stay composed under pressure and execute when trailing by such large margins speaks to both her tactical adjustments and psychological strength.
The Chinese player's run continues a trend of surprising results in the women's draw, where several seeded players have already fallen. Zheng's presence in the quarterfinals as a qualifier adds another layer of unpredictability to a tournament that has already produced its share of upsets.
As Zheng prepares for her quarterfinal match, she carries momentum from two of the most dramatic comebacks in recent US Open memory. Her ability to erase 5-0 deficits in consecutive matches suggests a player who thrives under the most intense pressure situations.
