Iga Swiatek, the 2022 US Open champion, was eliminated from the tournament on Monday after a dramatic collapse against China's Qinwen Zheng in the Round of 16. Zheng secured a 7-5, 6-3 victory, advancing to the quarterfinals while Swiatek was left to contemplate the stunning upset.
Zheng, who came through qualifying, appeared to gain momentum after Swiatek squandered an early lead in the first set. Swiatek had surged to a 5-0 advantage and held set points at 5-1 and 5-3, but failed to convert them. Zheng capitalized on the shift in momentum, ultimately taking the first set 7-5.
In the second set, Swiatek led 2-1 before calling for a medical timeout, during which her left leg was attended to. Although she seemed briefly revitalized, Zheng managed to save two break points at 3-3 and then broke Swiatek's serve. This sequence appeared to sap Swiatek's energy, and Zheng closed out the match.
Qinwen Zheng, a former major finalist and the 2024 Olympic gold medalist, had experienced a dip in form in 2025 due to injuries. Her victory over Swiatek signals a return to her previous high level. She fell to the ground in triumph after Swiatek's final shot went into the net.