A Comeback Nobody Saw Coming
Qinwen Zheng called it a "very dramatic match," but that description barely scratches the surface of what unfolded at Flushing Meadows on Saturday. The 23-year-old Chinese star, competing as a qualifier, stared down a match point while trailing 5-0 in the third set against Madison Keys before producing one of the most staggering reversals of the tournament. Zheng proceeded to win seven consecutive games, completing a stunning 1-6 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 victory over the 22nd seed and home crowd favorite. After clinching the final point, she threw herself to the ground in pure relief.
Keys, the reigning 2025 Australian Open champion, had looked completely in control after wrapping up the opening set in just 23 minutes. But Zheng refused to fold, telling herself throughout the match to "never give up," and little by little clawed her way back into contention. "Finally, a bit of luck is on my side," she reflected afterward.
Rebuilding After Surgery and Self-Doubt
The result is even more remarkable given where Zheng was just months ago. After undergoing elbow surgery in July 2025 to address a chronic bone fragment injury, she returned to competitive tennis only to suffer a first-round exit at the French Open earlier this year. Her ranking dropped to around 160 in the world, forcing her to compete in qualifying at a Grand Slam for the first time in four years.
"After coming back from injury I felt I lost the energy and I forgot how to compete," she admitted. Now riding a six-match winning streak in New York, she has become the first qualifier to reach the women's fourth round at the US Open since Emma Raducanu, who famously went on to win the 2021 title.
TennisDraw users tracking the women's draw will want to adjust their bracket picks with Zheng now firmly in the mix.
