09/07/26 01:08:00
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09/07 13:07 CDT Zheng Qinwen erases another 5-0 deficit and beats Iga Swiatek
to reach the US Open quarterfinals
Zheng Qinwen erases another 5-0 deficit and beats Iga Swiatek to reach the US
Open quarterfinals
By BRIAN MAHONEY
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --- Zheng Qinwen made a daring escape from a 5-0 deficit for the
second straight match, with this comeback sending her back into the U.S. Open
quarterfinals.
The Olympic gold medalist from China beat No. 8 seed Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-3 on
Monday to become the first qualifier to reach the final eight in Flushing
Meadows since Emma Raducanu won the title in 2021.
Two days after she was down 5-0 in the third set before winning the final seven
games to stun No. 22 Madison Keys 1-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5, Zheng quickly dropped the
first five games against Swiatek, the 2022 U.S. Open champion.
"I guess to come back 0-5 yesterday is not lucky, that's all I can say," Zheng
said.
Swiatek couldn't convert two set points serving at 5-1 and Zheng fought off
another when Swiatek served with a 5-3 lead. She said she was so focused on
each point that she even forgot the score.
Zheng was a U.S. Open quarterfinalist in 2023 and 2024 but after elbow surgery
had to go through qualifying this year to reach the main draw. Raducanu's title
five years ago made her the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title in the
Open era, which dates to 1968.
Swiatek came in with a 7-1 record against Zheng, with the only loss two years
ago in the Olympic semifinals in Paris. Zheng came back from a 4-0 deficit in
the second set that day to stop Swiatek's 25-match winning streak at Roland
Garros, where she has won four French Open titles.
Zheng will play either two-time champion Naomi Osaka or No. 2 Elena Rybakina in
the quarterfinals.
French Open champion Mirra Andreeva came back to beat No. 24 Anastasia Potapova
5-7, 6-4, 6-3 and the No. 5 seed will face either No. 4 Coco Gauff or No. 14
Iva Jovic. The two Americans meet Monday night in the opening match of the
night session.
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