Zheng Qinwen: From US Open Qualifier To Quarterfinalist

Zheng Qinwen
Zheng Qinwen (photo: Jürgen Hasenkopf)

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, September 8, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)

Zheng Qinwen is seven wins on the bounce at this year’s US Open and she’s still going strong. What a story she has become – and her story is still a work in progress.

Monday afternoon on Arthur Ashe Stadium, the 121st-ranked qualifier Zheng, who missed roughly seven to eight months of cumulative playing time across multiple stretches due to a chronic right elbow injury that required surgery, upset former World No. 1 and 2022 US Open champion Iga Swiatek of Poland, 7-5, 6-3, in one hour and 56 minutes to advance to the quarterfinal round of the year’s final major for the third time – most of any Chinese player. It’s her fifth major quarterfinal overall.

It was just the second time in nine tries that the 23-year-old Chinese star had beaten Swiatek, seeded eighth. It was also just the first Top-10 win for Zheng since 2025 at Rome and her first Top-10 triumph in a Grand Slam since the 2023 US Open.

Zheng made a remarkable comeback to beat Swiatek. After conceding the Polish icon a 5-0 lead, the Paris Olympic Games gold medalist and former World No. 4 went to work and strung together seven-straight winning games to pull out the opening set 7-5. Then, she broke Swiatek to go ahead 4-3, held serve, and broke Swiatek again, at love, to garner the comeback victory. Upon securing match point, Zweng dropped to the ground on her back in pure joy.

It was the second-consecutive match Zheng had won after overcoming a 5-0 deficit. In the third round against American Madison Keys, Zheng recovered from being down 0-5 in the final set and won seven-straight games.

Against Swiatek, Zheng won 83 percent (20 of 24) of her first-serve points, hit 20 winners to 17 unforced errors and converted five of 13 break points. She outpointed Swiatek 75-63.

Zheng became the first qualifier or lucky loser to beat Swiatek at a Grand Slam. The former World No. 1 had been 15-0 in such matches before losing to Zheng. Now, Zheng is the first qualifier since Emma Raducanu of Great Britain in 2021 to reach the US Open quarterfinals. Raducanu went on to famously win the title. Zheng has strung together three wins in qualifying and four in the main draw. She needs to win three more to equal Raducanu’s remarkable run.

“It was an incredible turnaround,” said Chanda Rubin, who analyzed the match for the US Open World Feed broadcast. “You have to watch it to really believe it. Swiatek didn’t choke; she didn’t start playing badly. Zheng raised her level and started taking the racquet out of Swiatek’s hands. She started swinging away more freely – and it’s one of the most impressive turnarounds. … There was not much Swiatek could do in the end.”

When it was Zhang’s turn to speak during her on-court interview, she kept things upbeat and simple: “Honestly, I have to say I started the match not so well. Afterward, I found my rhythm on the center court. It’s been a long, long time. I just really appreciate it. Point by point, I started to find my game,” she said.

“I guess to come back from 0-5 yesterday is not ‘lucky’… that’s all I can say.”

 

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During her post-match news conference, Swiatek tried to downplay Zhang’s turn-around from being down 0-5.

“You can lose a set from any score, nothing special about that,” she said. “Just that’s what happened and that’s it.”

Meanwhile, Zheng added: “I’m just happy to have won this match. It’s not easy. I just appreciate this week. … The more matches that I play, the more rhythm I have on the court. … I’m not tired at all. I feel really confident for my next match. I can reach better levels, trying to show my tennis and to enjoy playing on this fantastic stadium.”

Next, Zheng will play World No. 2 and second seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, who needed just 66 minutes to eliminate two-time US Open champion and this year’s No. 13 seed Naomi Osaka of Japan, 6-1, 6-4, on Louis Armstrong Stadium. The win advanced Rybakina to her first US Open quarterfinal and eighth major quarterfinal overall. 

The two-time major champion Rybakina, who is yet to drop a set, closed out her 46th victory of the year with a 116 mile-per-hour ace. It was her seventh ace of the match and 29th winner overall. She dropped just four points on her first serve, winning 27 of 31 opportunities (87 percent). Rybakina, who saved the only break point she faced from Osaka, converted three of eight break points and outpointed her opponent 60-41. Her ball-striking quality against Osaka was tremendous.

“I honestly didn’t expect it. I played really well today,” Rybakina said during her on-court interview. “Feeling the ball was really good from my side. A bit lucky in some moments. I caught some lines. Super happy with the performance.

“Naomi is a tough opponent. I knew no matter the score, I needed to focus on each ball. She’s also an aggressive player. I’m very glad with the way I played today. Thank you so much for an amazing atmosphere, guys.”

Looking ahead, Rybakina is now just one win away from securing the PIF WTA World No.1 ranking. She can also secure the No. 1 ranking with losses this week by Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula.

 

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Blockx makes Belgian history in reaching US Open quarterfinals

Alexander Blockx‘s US Open debut has been one he won’t soon forget. That’s because the 21-year-old Belgian has reached the quarterfinal round at Flushing Meadows, the first man from Belgium to do so at the US Open in the Open Era. 

On Monday afternoon, playing for the first time on Arthur Ashe Stadium, the No. 28 seed Blockx overcame injury to upset No. 24 seed Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, in three hours and 16 minutes to move into the last eight.

A round after upsetting No. 6 seed Flavio Cobolli of Italy next door on Louis Armstrong Stadium, Blockx backed up that victory with another impressive performance that was filled with quality shot-making skills and a resilience for playing through pain, too. 

“From the second game I started feeling really sharp in my rib,” Blockx said during his on-court interview. “I was just holding on to be honest. Even though I won that first set 6-3, it could have been the other way round. Afterwards, the doctor gave me some magical medication and that kept me going and from the end of the third set I started to feel a lot better again. I barely felt pain.”

Blockx collapsed to the ground in celebration, after beating Cerundolo on his first match-point opportunity. Then, after embracing Cerundolo at the net, he raced over to hug his coach, former Belgian pro Ruben Bemelmans, and the rest of his team.

The young Belgian finished with 36 winners overall – including 10 aces – and won 74 percent (57 of 77) of his first-serve points. He converted six of 12 break points and outpointed Cerundolo 137-133.

A year ago, Blockx was ranked No. 116. Now, with his fourth-straight US Open triumph, his PIF Live Ranking has shot up to No. 26. 

 

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“This morning I stepped onto this court for the first time to warm up and that felt unreal, so to play a match here and win a match here is even crazier,” said Blockx of his first-time experience of playing on 23,771-seat capacity Arthur Ashe Stadium, the largest stadium in professional tennis.

Next, Block will face No. 50 Karen Khachanov of Russia, who rallied to beat No. 14 seed Learner Tien of the United States, 7-5, 4-6, 6-7 (6), 6-1, 6-4, in three hours and 50 minutes on Louis Armstrong Stadium Monday evening to advance to his seventh career Grand Slam quarterfinal – and second one at the US Open following his 2022 run to the semifinals.

Unseeded at a major for the first time since 2018 at Wimbledon, the 30-year-old Khachanov outpointed Tien, 10 years his junior, 166-157. He hit 48 winners and withstood 55 winners from the World No. 15 Tien, who lost a five-setter at a Grand Slam for the first time.

Around the US Open

Men’s notable results:

• On the Grandstand, 21-year-old Frenchman Arthur Gea attempted to make history by becoming the first men’s lucky loser to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal, breaking an 0-12 record by lucky losers at the round of 16 stage at this level. The 87th-ranked Gea took on 70th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp, who looked to equal his best Grand Slam result, five years after his run to US Open quarterfinals, losing to eventual champion Daniil Medvedev in four sets.

As it happened, van de Zandschulp pulled through an incredible five-set thriller – at five hours and 13 minutes it was easily the longest match of this year’s US Open – by beating Gea, 3-6, 6-7 (0), 7-6 (7), 7-6 (3), 6-4.

The Frenchman had a match point during the third-set tiebreak and was serving for the match in the fourth set. However, Gea was unable to pull out a victory either time.

By the end of the fourth-round tussle, in which the van de Zandschulp and Gea combined to play 409 points, the Dutch No. 2 struck 61 winners – including 15 aces – and won 70 percent (80 of 114) of his first-serve points. He converted seven of 21 break points. Gea finished with 43 winners and broke his opponent seven times in 16 tries. Despite losing, Gea outpointed van de Zandschulp 208-201.

On Wednesday, van de Zandschulp will face World No. 2 Alexander Zverev of Germany. The top-seeded Zverev defeated No. 21 seed Luciano Darderi of Italy, 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (3), in two hours and 31 minutes Monday night on Arthur Ashe Stadium in back of 43 winners, including 13 aces. It was Zverev’s 50th ATP Tour victory this season and by reaching the quarterfinals, he’s the only man to advance to the last eight stage in all four majors this season.

“I thought my level was very consistent,” Zverev said during his on-court interview. “He started playing incredibly well in the third set. I barely saw anyone hit the ball as hard as he did, consistently for an entire set, so credit to him. He made it very difficult for me, but I’m happy to be in the quarter-finals and happy to be playing this way.”

Women’s notable results:

• No. 5 seed Mirra Andreeva of Russia held off the upset bid of No. 24 seed Anastasia Potapova of Austria to reach her first US Open quarterfinal. The 19-year-old Andreeva advanced over Potapova, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, in two hours and 27 minutes on Louis Armstrong Stadium. 

Serving at 3-5 to stay in the match, Potapova injured her left knee while lunging to hit a forehand return. She fell to the ground in obvious pain. In an act of good sportsmanship, Andreeva immediately came to Potapova’s aid and helped her to the sidelines. Following a medical time out, Potapova finished the match with her left knee heavily taped but it was to no avail. Andreeva won three-straight points to close out the game, the set and the fourth-round match. 

“Nastya, she’s my good friend,” Andreeva said during her on-court interview. “Seeing what a battle we had, and seeing in the last game her fall like this, it’s not easy. I can imagine what she’s going through and I have goosebumps on my body.

“It’s not the way obviously you want to finish the match, or to see one of your good friends finish the match. I just told her that she’s been playing amazing so far, she’s been having one of the best seasons, and I’m sure that she’s going to come back even stronger because she’s a warrior. I think she’s even a better fighter than me.”

Andreeva overcame 48 unforced errors to hit 23 winners and converted six of 10 break points. She outpointed Potapova 99-93.

“I’m happy with how I was fighting,” Andreeva said. “But still, I’m pretty sad with how it all ended.”

Next, Andreeva will face World No. 4 Coco Gauff of the United States, who mastered 18-year-old No. 14 seed Iva Jovic, 6-1, 6-4, in one hour and 33 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium Monday evening to secure the final quarterfinal berth in the women’s singles draw – and the third American in the final eight, joining Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro.

After breezing through the opening set, Gauff wrapped up her 44th victory of the season – and 10th straight – by winning the final three games of the fourth-round match. It was her second victory this season over Jovic, who was attempting to equal her quarterfinal run at the Australian Open earlier this year.

 

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“Iva’s an incredible player, an incredible talent. She plays beyond her years,” Gauff said of Jovic, during her on-court interview. “I’m looking for many more battles out here. I’m sure we’ll be playing many more matches in the future.”

As for Gauff, she’s through to her first US Open quarterfinal since 2023, the year she won the US Open title. Against Jovic, Gauff hit 18 winners, made just 15 unforced errors, converted five of 11 break points and outpointed Jovic 65-44.

“I got a lot more looks on break points. I had a couple in the beginning of the second set,” Gauff said during her on-court interview. “Honestly, there were a couple of games where I felt like I was running a marathon. That was probably the first time I was out of breath in a long time.”

• Top-seed doubles team Katerina Siniakova of Czechia and Taylor Townsend of the United States advanced to the quarterfinal round with a 7-6 (6), 6-4 victory over No. 13 seeds Storm Hunter of Australia and Desirae Krawczyk of the United States in one hour and 49 minutes on Louis Armstrong Stadium. Siniakova and Townsend, who are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the world, respectively, have won three Grand Slam titles as a team: 2024 Wimbledon, 2025 Australian Open and 2026 Roland-Garros. The US Open is the only major that they haven’t won together.

Monday’s US Open results

Tuesday’s US Open order of play

By the numbers

• Alexander Blockx is just the fourth different Belgian singles player in the Open Era (since 1968) to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam – and the first one to do it at the US Open. The last Belgian to achieve a quarterfinals-round appearance was David Goffin at Wimbledon in 2022.

The 21-year-old Blockx is also just the fifth man born in 2005 or later to advance to the quarterfinals at a major, joining Learner Tien, Joao Fonseca, Rafael Jodar and Jakub Mensik.

• With Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece going down to American No. 8 seed Ben Shelton in the fourth round Sunday evening, there are no one-handed backhand players remaining in the men’s singles draw. The US Open has joined the other three majors with no one-handed backhand players advancing to the semifinals this year, breaking a 150-year old record dating back to 1877 at Wimbledon.

• After three night sessions during the first week finished past 2 a.m. New York Time – and two others ended after 1:30 a.m. – Sunday’s night session wrapped up before 11 p.m.

“Quotable …”

• “I’ve been watching his matches. I think he’s playing extremely high level. To me, he looks very normal – his normal, I mean – which is impressive after not playing for five months. I think it will be a great match. I’m excited for the battle. Never played him here in New York, and obviously in the position that I want to be in.”

– Ben Shelton of the United States, who is into his fourth major quarterfinal in his last eight majors, on facing former World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in Tuesday’s quarterfinal round.

• “It feels good to be back on Ashe. It’s been a couple years, and I missed it a ton. I love playing out here. Thank you, guys, for staying late tonight. … I definitely get my calmness from my mom. We make fun of my dad because he’s always up there flinching and moving around. I think I can hear his feet at some points when I’m hitting the ball.”

– Emma Navarro of the United States, during her on-court interview on Arthur Ashe Stadium Sunday evening, after advancing to the quarterfinal round with her straight-set win over Anna Kalinskaya of Russia.

 

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