US Open Drama: Qinwen Zheng Stages Incredible Comeback While Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and Alexander Zverev Advance to Quarters

China's Qinwen Zheng celebrated a hard-fought victory after her round of 16 match against Poland's Iga Swiatek. Home favourite Coco Gauff and world number two Elena Rybakina both sailed smoothly into the US Open quarterfinals, while China’s Zheng Qinwen mounted yet another extraordinary fightback to upset six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek.

Top seed Alexander Zverev defeated Italian Luciano Darderi with a score of 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(3) at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The German player expressed surprise at finishing his match before midnight following a couple of grueling five-setters earlier in the tournament.

“I think after 10 hours on court, I just maybe found my rhythm a little bit better, which is helpful because the first two matches were really not at a great level,” Zverev shared after his late Monday win. “I think I’m going in the right direction, moving forward in the right direction.” Zverev is currently bidding for his second Grand Slam title following his victory at the French Open in June, successfully avenging his earlier defeat by Darderi at the Italian Open in Rome this year.

Meanwhile, fourth seed Gauff easily outclassed compatriot Iva Jovic 6-1, 6-4, setting up a thrilling upcoming clash with French Open champion Mirra Andreeva for a coveted spot in the semifinals. “Mirra is someone that I always have tough matches with,” Gauff told reporters. “She’s obviously in a different mindset now at the top of the game coming off of a Grand Slam win … it’s going to be a really athletic, tough match.” Gauff notably stands as the sixth American player to reach the quarters, joining Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro, Frances Tiafoe, Alex Michelsen, and Ben Shelton.

Elena Rybakina continued her relentless quest for a third major title by securing a 6-1, 6-4 victory over former US Open champion Naomi Osaka, who was unfortunately hampered by an Achilles tendon injury that flared up during the previous round. This victory leaves the second seed just one win away from clinching the world number one ranking for the very first time, with Olympic champion Zheng awaiting her in the quarterfinals.

Zheng has firmly established herself as an escape artist at Flushing Meadows. After recovering from a daunting 0-5 deficit in the deciding set against third-round opponent Madison Keys, she similarly let the first five games slip away in just 20 minutes against the 2002 champion Swiatek. However, she brilliantly clawed her way back into contention, collapsing to the court with her face in her hands after sealing the win on her fourth match point. Zheng proudly stands as the first qualifier since Emma Raducanu in 2021 to reach the quarterfinals of the women’s draw as she battles back from a chronic elbow injury.

Elsewhere, Andreeva’s entertaining match against Anastasia Potapova ended on a dramatic and sour note when the Austrian went down injured in the final game. Potapova valiantly returned to the court but ultimately could not prevent the inevitable as Andreeva secured a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 win with a decisive backhand strike before walking across the net to comfort her opponent.

The men’s draw evening session was equally packed with intense drama. Over at Louis Armstrong Stadium, Karen Khachanov fought back tenaciously to claim a 7-5, 4-6, 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-4 victory over 20-year-old American Learner Tien. Meanwhile, on the Grandstand court, Botic van de Zandschulp emerged victorious following a grueling five-hour marathon against Arthur Gea. The 21-year-old Gea had previously stood just one single point away from becoming the first lucky loser in Grand Slam history to reach the quarterfinals before his Dutch opponent engineered a remarkable 3-6, 6-7(0), 7-6(7), 7-6(3), 6-4 comeback.

Earlier on Monday, Belgium’s Alexander Blockx dispatched Argentine 24th seed Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 to successfully reach his very first Grand Slam quarterfinal.