Qinwen Zheng staged an epic second US Open comeback in as many days to stun former champion Iga Swiatek and secure her place in the quarter-finals for the third time.
Two days after saving a match point while trailing 5-0 in the third set against Madison Keys, Zheng mounted another incredible counterattack against Arthur Ashe.
Swiatek won the first five games but Zheng simply refused to budge, winning the next seven games to close out the first set before overcoming her shell-shocked opponent to complete a stunning 7-5 6-3 win.
A stunned Swiatek never recovered and the 2022 champion succumbed in straight sets, 7-5 6-3, leaving the court in tears as her campaign unraveled in unimaginable fashion.
The former world number 4 from China, who had come through qualifying after being sidelined by a long-term elbow injury, became the first qualifier to reach the quarter-finals since Emma Raducanu won the tournament in 2021.
Zheng’s reward is a draw in the last eight against either Naomi Osaka or Elena Rybakina.
Zheng is delighted to be back on the big stage
“I started the match not so well, but I found my rhythm,” said Zheng.
“It’s been a long, long time since I’ve played on a center court and I really appreciate being here at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“I took it point by point and little by little I started to play better and find my game.
I even forgot about 4-5 in the first set, which showed that I was focused. Coming back from 0-5 is not luck, that’s all I can say.”
Qinwen Zheng, US Open (Associated Press)
‘One of the great comebacks’
Jonathan Overend of Sky Sports Tennis:
“It’s an outright win, but it’s one of the big comebacks. Go figure. How is it possible? Zheng did it.
“Two games in a row, 5-0 down in sets. She won against Madison Keys to take the first set today, before finishing against Swiatek for just the second time in her career.”
“The Chinese dream continues as qualification moves into the final eight”.
Potapova broke down in tears after the late injury in Andreeva’s loss
Anastasia Potapova was in tears as her stay in New York came to an end.
The 25-year-old Austrian won the first set against fifth seed Mirra Andreeva, but at 5-3 in the third she badly twisted her knee following a forehand down.
Potapova had her knee heavily bandaged and bravely finished the match but failed to win another point as French Open champion Andreeva triumphed 5-7 6-4 6-3.
“Anastasia is a good friend and to see what a struggle we have and then to see her fall is not easy,” said Russian teenager Andreeva.
“It’s not how you want to end the game. I just told her she’s playing great and I’m sure she’ll come back even stronger, she’s a fighter.”
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