Zheng Qinwen reaches US Open last 16 with 'classic comeback'

China's Zheng Qinwen bounced back from 5-0 down in the decider to overcome home player Madison Keys and reach the US Open women's singles last 16 on Saturday.

Zheng Qinwen of China returns a shot against Madison Keys of the United States during their Women's Singles Third Round match on Day Seven of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 05, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo: AFP)

After losing the first set 6-1 with four double faults, Zheng gradually found rhythm to improve stability on serves. The two players were well-matched in the second set until the reigning Olympic champion won 7-6 (3) in the tie-breaker.

22nd-seeded Keys then felt at ease in the third set to take a 5-0 lead, but Zheng showed resilience to win seven straight games to claim a 7-5 victory.

Madison Keys of the United States reacts against Zheng Qinwen of China during their Women's Singles Third Round match on Day Seven of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 05, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo: AFP)

In her sixth appearance in the Grand Slam last 16, Zheng will play against eighth seed Iga Swiatek of Poland.

"It is a very classic comeback," Zheng said. "I kept holding every single point. Somehow, little by little, it just happened. I turned [around] 0-5. This is the first time [it] happened in my career."

"It was a very tough game. At that moment, I showed no emotion. I just kept fighting. Against Maddie, you can't be too passive. I think I find the right balance at the end of the game. What I can say? Wow," the 23-year-old added.

Zheng Qinwen of China celebrates after defeating Madison Keys of the United States during their Women's Singles Third Round match on Day Seven of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 05, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo: AFP)

"I obviously got off to a really good lead, and then I just got really scared, like I couldn't swing. At the end, I felt like I couldn't play tennis anymore, and it felt like it was a much bigger deal than just playing a tennis match, all of a sudden," Keys said.

Also on Saturday, China's Shang Juncheng and Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik beat Fabian Marozsan of Hungary and Argentina's Sebastian Baez 6-2, 6-4 in the men's doubles first round.

Chinese players struggled in the women's doubles second round, as Wang Xiyu and Xu Yifan lost to the top-seeded pair Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic and Taylor Townsend of the United States 6-3, 6-4. American pair Robin Montgomery and Ashlyn Krueger saw off China's Wang Xinyu and Japan's Moyuka Uchijima 6-2, 4-6, 6-1, while China's Tang Qianhui and Russia's Elena Pridankina lost to Australia's Ellen Perez and Demi Schuurs of the Netherlands 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-3.