The French Open
US Open 2026 Women’s Day 9
Zheng Qinwen scored a second straight fightback from 0-5 as the former world No. 4 who had to play qualifying here reached a third career quarter-final at the US Open on Monday.
Zheng, who only recently returned after late 2025 arm surgery, made her miracle recovery against 2022 tournament champion Iga Swiatek, knocking the eight seed out 7-5, 6-3.
The Chinese player repeated the miracle she first managed 48 hours earlier when she beat 2017 finalist Madison Keys in a similar scenario, coming from the depths and winning seven straight games. Six-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek left the court in tears.
That act was not hard to follow for the No. 121 who had lost seven of eight previous matches to former world No. 1 Swiatek.
The Pole took a 5-0 lead in the opening set, but that merely opened the door for Zheng to go to work.
“I started the match not so well, but little by little I found my game and my rhythm on Ashe (showcourt,” she said.
“It was a long time since I played on a centre court; I started to find my game. At one point I even forgot the score, that showed my focus.”
Zheng stunned Swiatek 7-5, with the seed calling for the trainer for her left leg after three games in the second set. Swiatek had a medical timeout, was given some tablets and got back to the match.
But she lost two of her next three service games, going down to defeat after saving three Zheng match points before her backhand hit the net to lose.
Zheng secured a seventh straight match win after starting in qualies.
Swiatek said her level dropped as her opponent climbed back into the match while trailing.
“I wouldn’t say it (the comeback) had anything to do with mentality. It was more that I started making mistakes from easy balls and Qinwen stopped doing mistakes.
The smiling Chinese won over the crowd post-match with her graciousness and good humour.
“I guess I showed that a 0-5 comeback is not so lucky now, that’s all I can say.
“I’m happy to win this match, it was not easy. And I’ve not beaten a top 10 player for a long time (Aryna Sabalenka, 2025 Rome quarters). I really appreciate this win.
“I really wanted to show my best tennis.”
There was also injury drama in the day’s other opening match as Austria’s Anastasia Potapova went down on her left leg in a tight second-set moment in what became a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 loss to Roland Garros champion Mirra Andreeva.
Potapova took a tumble on the first point in the ninth game of the final set and was seen by the trainer after her teenaged opponent crossed over to check on her fallen condition.
Despite apparent pain, the No. 25 she was strapped and returned to play out the rest of the game as Andreeva advanced, denying her opponent a first career quarter-final in 27 Grand Slams
“For sure it was not an easy match,” Andreeva said, “I’ve known Nastya for a very long time, and we always have great battles against each other.
“I’m pretty happy with how I stayed in the fight. Also, you know, it’s not the perfect end to the match, as well.
Iga Swiatek succumbed to a lingering thigh injury, with her Tuesday withdrawal killing her chances of playing in the WTA Finals.
The six-time Grand Slam winner and former world No. 1 has qualified into the eight-player year-ender uninterruptedly since 2020. Her last-gasp lifeline might be an alternate’s position in Indian Wells next month.
“After careful consideration, I’ve decided to withdraw from the (Ningbo) tournament,” Swiatek said in a statement.
“I’ve been experiencing an ongoing problem with my left thigh over the past weeks and I feel giving myself the time to rest and recover is the right decision.”
The ninth-ranked Pole reached the Wuhan semi-finals last week, losing to compatriot and Roland Garros finalist Maja Chwalinska.
Seven of the eight IW Finals spots have been decided, with Swiatek lagging on ninth place and Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Muchova, Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk and Swiatek all in the points race to fill out the final spot in the field.
Alexander Zverev on Thursday made a long-sought after return to the Shanghai Masters semi-finals, booking his first final four at the event since 2019, defeating Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4.
The 2027 year-end No. 1 last got this far as the Covid pandemic began to surface in China in 2019. The event was not played 2020-2022, with the German making modest progress here over the past three editions since resumption.
After winning his 62nd match of the season, the 29-year-old was pleased with his performance.
“I think it was a huge step up. From just being on the court I felt both of us were playing really well.
“I was, a lot of the time, outhitting Alex, which is difficult to do from the baseline because he is so fast and he loves this kind of court speed here.
“I felt good and I’m happy with the step up from the past couple of matches.”
Zverev advanced in 78 minutes, sending over 10 aces as he defeated the Australian for the ninth time in their 13 matches.
Added the reigning Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows Grand Slam champion: “I’ve been handling pressure quite okay this year. In a way you play a bit more relaxed.
“Once Jannik (SInner) unfortunately announced he won’t play for the rest of the year, I’m 4,000 points ahead of everyone else, so I trust myself enough that I’m going to win [enough matches].
Zverev will play for the final to wrap up the Asian swing as he takes on Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who advanced when Arthur Gea quit their quarter-final with injury.
Alexander Zverev will claim world year-end No. 1 honours for the first time on the back of two Grand Slam titles and a final this season.,
The ATP confirmed the changing of the guard as current No. 1 Jannik Sinner ended his season early last week due to a knee injury which has kept him off court since winning Wimbledon three months ago.
Zverev won Roland Garros and US Open trophies and lost to Sinner in the All England Club final.
His reign at the top will begin after the ATP Final in Turin with the ranking period starting on November 23.
Zverev will be 29 years, 217 days old on the date, three days older than Andre Agassi in 1999 (29 years, 214 days).
Main photo:- Alexander Zverev by ISF Ltd
Musetti buries 7-final loss streak
Daniil defeats his demons with first title defence
Medvedev favours no favours for Djokovic
-
Beijing3 weeks agoNo. 1 and 2 seeds ousted in Beijing WTA
-
ATP3 weeks agoDjokovic reaches 7th Beijing final as Medvedev DQ’d
-
ATP3 weeks agoBu hoo for China as Djokovic outlasts a local
-
ATP3 weeks agoAlcaraz beats Lehecka to triumph in Tokyo
-
ATP4 weeks agoDjokovic untouchable after 30th win in Beijing
-
ATP3 weeks agoDjokovic backs into 7th Beijing title as injured de Minaur quits
-
ATP2 weeks agoFrustrated Alcaraz lashes out at ball after Shanghai shock
-
ATP4 weeks agoItalian media fear Sinner may need surgery