New York, Sept 7:
China’s Qinwen Zheng and Japan’s Naomi Osaka produced contrasting but equally dramatic victories to reach the fourth round of the US Open, setting up major clashes in the tournament’s second week.
Zheng, the 2024 Olympic champion, pulled off one of the tournament’s biggest comebacks by recovering from 0-5 down in the deciding set to defeat American 22nd seed Madison Keys 1-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5.
The Chinese player appeared to be heading out when Keys moved within a game of victory at 5-0 in the third set. Zheng, however, refused to surrender. She held serve, saved a match point and then began an extraordinary run that saw her win the next seven games.
Zheng broke Keys three times during that stretch before serving out the match after two hours and 28 minutes.
The victory is especially significant given Zheng’s difficult road back to the Grand Slam stage. After undergoing right elbow surgery, she slipped to No. 121 in the rankings and had to come through qualifying to enter the US Open main draw.
Zheng had previously reached as high as No. 4 in the world and won Olympic gold in Paris in 2024. Her victory over Keys marks another major step in her comeback.
She now faces eighth seed Iga Swiatek in the fourth round, setting up a highly anticipated contest between two players who have already produced memorable battles on the biggest stages.
Osaka, meanwhile, battled past Belgium’s 23rd seed Elise Mertens 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 to reach the last 16.
The four-time Grand Slam champion took control early but was forced into a tense deciding set after Mertens levelled the match. Osaka held her nerve to prevail in a contest lasting two hours and 38 minutes.
The Japanese 13th seed was also dealing with an Achilles issue but managed to maintain her composure during a tense third set. She produced nine aces and converted four of 16 break-point opportunities.
Osaka’s reward is a fourth-round clash with second seed Elena Rybakina, who defeated Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva 7-6, 6-3.
The two victories underline the unpredictable nature of this year’s women’s draw, with established champions, comeback stories and emerging contenders converging in the second week.