Iga Swiatek exited the US Open in tears on Monday after a dramatic collapse in her fourth-round match against qualifier Zheng Qinwen. The 2022 champion at Flushing Meadows was defeated in straight sets, 3-6, 7-5, after squandering a commanding 5-0 lead in the opening set.
Swiatek, who appeared visibly upset as she left Arthur Ashe Stadium, struggled to regain her footing after Zheng broke her serve in the sixth game of the first set. The Chinese player then mounted a remarkable comeback, winning seven consecutive games to take the set and shifting the momentum of the match.
This marks the second time in the tournament that Zheng has recovered from a significant deficit. She previously came back from 0-5 down in the third set against Madison Keys to win her third-round match.
Swiatek Addresses Performance in Press Conference
In the post-match press conference, Swiatek was questioned about her lead evaporating and how she planned to bounce back. The world No. 1 initially responded by noting that losses are a common part of tennis and that she focuses on improving her game for future tournaments.
When pressed further about the specific collapse from a 5-0 lead, Swiatek's tone became more tense. She stated, "It's just one match, like..." After a pause, she added, "I'll try to play the same way as usual. What do you mean, like, what? Do you think it's something crazy? You can lose a set from any score, so nothing special about that. Just that's what happened and that's it."
Zheng's Resurgent Run
Zheng Qinwen, currently ranked No. 121 in the world, is continuing a strong showing at the US Open. Her performance has drawn comparisons to Emma Raducanu's historic qualifying run to win the tournament in 2021, the only time a qualifier has won a Grand Slam.
Zheng, a former top-10 player, experienced a significant drop in her ranking due to a lengthy injury layoff. Despite her current ranking, she has proven her capability against higher-ranked opponents, including a previous win against Swiatek in the semi-finals of the French Open and securing Olympic gold two years ago.
With her victory over Swiatek, Zheng advances to the quarter-finals, where she will continue her bid to become the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title since Raducanu.