Zheng Qinwen Stuns Keys with Epic US Open Comeback
Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen produced one of the most dramatic comebacks of the 2026 US Open, saving a match point and rallying from 5-0 down in the deciding set to defeat No. 22 seed Madison Keys 1-6, 7-6(3), 7-5 in the third round. The 2-hour-28-minute victory at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center sends the Olympic gold medalist into the Round of 16, where she will face world No. 8 Iga Swiatek.
A Comeback for the Ages
Keys dominated the opening set, winning 20 of the final 23 points to claim it in just 23 minutes. But Zheng raised her level in the second set, forcing and then winning a tiebreak 7-3 to level the match. The deciding set appeared all but over when Keys raced to a 5-0 lead and held match point serving at 5-1.
According to the WTA’s official match report, Zheng saved the match point and then won seven consecutive games to complete the remarkable turnaround. It was the first time in her career she had come back from 0-5 down in a set.
“I was just telling myself keep holding every single point, never give up,” Zheng said, as reported by The Athletic. “Somehow, little by little, it just happened. Finally, one time, luck is on my side.”
Keys, who had herself staged a dramatic comeback in the previous round by saving five match points against Anna Bondar, was left visibly distraught. “I obviously got off to a really good lead, and then I just got really — I mean, got really scared, like I couldn’t swing,” she said. “I don’t know. Tennis just feels really hard right now.”
A Journey Back from Surgery
Zheng’s triumph carries deep significance beyond a single match. The 23-year-old from China underwent arthroscopic surgery on her right elbow in July 2025 after persistent pain, forcing her to withdraw from the remainder of that season and miss the 2026 Australian Open. Her ranking plummeted from a career-high of No. 4 to as low as No. 160 before entering the US Open at World No. 121.
The Yangcheng Evening News described her journey as one of “450 days of frustration and unwillingness,” noting that Zheng had to set aside her pride to compete in qualifying for the first time since 2022. She has now won six consecutive matches at the tournament — three in qualifying and three in the main draw — and collapsed onto her back in joy after each victory, a gesture that reflects the emotional weight of her comeback.
“After the surgery it was not easy,” Zheng said in her on-court interview. “It felt like I lost a bit of my energy on the tennis court. I’ve been through really tough moments these last three, four, five months. But we’ve been working really hard… and yeah, the hard work finally paid off a bit.”
Historic Significance and What’s Next
Zheng became the first qualifier to reach the US Open women’s singles fourth round since Emma Raducanu in 2021 — a tournament Raducanu went on to win. Xinhua News reported that Zheng described the victory as the first 0-5 comeback of her career, saying, “As long as the match isn’t over, I have to keep fighting and keep playing every point well.”
Her reward is a fourth-round showdown with Swiatek, the 2022 US Open champion and six-time Grand Slam winner. Swiatek advanced by outlasting No. 25 seed Marie Bouzkova 7-6(3), 7-6(3) in 2 hours and 27 minutes, reaching the fourth round for the sixth consecutive year. The Polish star leads Zheng 7-1 in their career head-to-head, with Zheng’s only victory coming in the semifinals of the 2024 Paris Olympics — the match that propelled her to gold.
Reuters noted that Swiatek is undefeated against qualifiers and lucky losers at Grand Slams, holding a 15-0 record in such matchups. However, Zheng’s current form — built on six straight wins in New York and a rediscovered fighting spirit — suggests the upcoming clash could be far closer than the head-to-head record implies.
Analysis: A Resurgence in Progress
Zheng’s run at Flushing Meadows marks a potential turning point in her post-surgery career. Before this tournament, she had not won more than two consecutive matches since returning to the tour in February. Her path through qualifying, combined with three gritty main-draw victories, demonstrates both physical recovery and renewed mental resilience.
The matchup with Swiatek presents a formidable test, but Zheng has already shown she can beat the Pole on the biggest stage. Her Olympic victory in Paris proved that when her game clicks, she can match the world’s best. For a player who has endured 15 months of setbacks, the US Open has become a stage for redemption — and the tennis world will be watching to see how far she can go.