Qinwen Zheng has produced one of the biggest stories of the US Open 2026, defeating former world No. 1 Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-3 after recovering from 0-5 down in the opening set. The victory sent the Chinese qualifier into the quarterfinals and highlighted a remarkable comeback after a difficult period caused by injury.
The 23-year-old entered the tournament ranked No. 121 after undergoing surgery for a chronic right elbow problem. Instead of receiving a direct main-draw place, Zheng had to navigate qualifying before beginning her extraordinary run in New York. She has now become the first qualifier to reach the US Open quarterfinals since Emma Raducanu in 2021.
The Comeback That Changed the Match
Against Swiatek, Zheng appeared to be heading towards a straightforward defeat when the Polish star raced to a 5-0 advantage. But the match suddenly changed. Zheng found her rhythm, attacked more confidently and won seven consecutive games to take the first set 7-5.
Remarkably, this was her second straight comeback from 0-5 down. Two days earlier, she had produced the same turnaround against Madison Keys before completing another three-set victory.
The victory is particularly significant because Swiatek had dominated their previous meetings, leading 7-1 before this match. Zheng’s only earlier win came in the 2024 Paris Olympic semifinal, where she eventually went on to win the gold medal.
Why Zheng’s Run Matters
This is more than an upset. Zheng is demonstrating that her previous rise into the world’s top four was not a short-lived breakthrough. After injury and a ranking collapse, she has rebuilt her confidence at the biggest possible stage.
Her next challenge is second seed Elena Rybakina. If Zheng continues playing with the same resilience, her US Open journey could become the defining chapter of her career so far.
