Zheng’s Path to the Quarter-finals
Zheng Qinwen has secured her place in the US Open quarter-finals, defeating Iga Swiatek in straight sets. This victory marks the third time Zheng has reached the US Open quarter-finals. The match concluded with a score of 7-5, 6-3.
The win against Swiatek follows a pattern for Zheng, who has twice rallied from a 5-0 deficit to take a set in recent matches. This included a comeback against Madison Keys in the decider on Saturday and repeating the feat in the opening set against Swiatek on Monday.
Key Moments in the Match
In the opening set against Swiatek, Zheng faced an early challenge as Swiatek took an initial 5-0 lead. Swiatek had won eight of the first nine points and secured a love hold to be within one game of claiming the set. However, Zheng initiated her comeback by holding serve for 5-1, mirroring her turnaround against Keys.
Zheng then won three consecutive games, extending her run to four in a row with a break for 5-4, after saving a third set point for Swiatek. She levelled the score at 5-all with a forehand winner, one of her nine winners in the first set. Zheng subsequently broke for 6-5 after Swiatek double-faulted on break point. Swiatek, who had started with three routine holds, was broken three times consecutively to end the set. Zheng sealed the opening set with a love hold, winning her seventh straight game just under the one-hour mark.
In the second set, Zheng faced a double break point while serving at 3-2. Swiatek’s forehand went wide, allowing Zheng to escape the threat. Zheng then held serve for 3-3 with a backhand winner. Seven minutes later, Zheng capitalised on another opportunity, breaking Swiatek for a 4-3 lead with a backhand return winner down the line.
Swiatek managed to save three match points, but Zheng ultimately secured the victory. The match concluded with a pair of backhand errors from Swiatek, the final one going into the net, giving Zheng the win just four minutes shy of two hours.
Zheng’s Tournament Performance and Next Steps
Zheng’s victory over Swiatek is notable as it marks her second win against Swiatek on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz, with the first occurring at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. She also became the first qualifier or lucky loser to defeat Swiatek at a Grand Slam, ending Swiatek’s previous 15-0 record in such matches.
This achievement also makes Zheng the first qualifier to reach the US Open women’s singles quarter-finals since Emma Raducanu in 2021. Zheng, who had to come through qualifying to enter the main draw, has previously reached the quarter-finals twice in New York. Her ranking had dropped to world No. 121 following an elbow injury that required surgery.
Zheng will now face the winner of the match between No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina and No. 13 seed Naomi Osaka in the quarter-finals. Rybakina holds a 4-1 head-to-head record against Osaka, having won both of their encounters this season in Doha and Madrid, both in three sets. If Osaka advances, Zheng has a 2-1 advantage in their rivalry, with the Olympic gold medallist winning their last two meetings, though Osaka claimed their only hard-court match-up in San Jose in 2022.
Source: wtatennis.com