“Finally, one time the luck was on my side”: Qinwen Zheng reacts after stunning comeback against Madison Keys

Sunday, 06 September 2026 at 04:30

Qinwen Zheng finally felt that luck had turned in her favor. The Chinese star came back from 0-5 down in the deciding set against Madison Keys, winning seven consecutive games to complete a stunning 1-6, 7-6(3), 7-5 victory and reach the fourth round of the US Open.

The comeback was another remarkable chapter in a season that had taken Zheng in the opposite direction. A persistent right elbow injury and surgery disrupted her campaign, while poor results saw the former Olympic champion fall to No. 121 in the world and struggle to rediscover the level that had previously made her one of the leading players on tour.

Rather than play Cincinnati, Zheng decided to use the week for a training block with her team. She arrived in New York having won only four of her previous 12 matches since Roland Garros, but has now put together six consecutive victories, including qualifying, to move more than 40 places in the live rankings.

Zheng is now around No. 80 in the live rankings and has become the first qualifier to reach the US Open fourth round since Emma Raducanu in 2021. Her reward is another major test against Iga Swiatek, but reaching this stage already represents a significant turnaround from where her season appeared to be heading.

Zheng turns 0-5 into an incredible comeback

Keys looked in complete control at the beginning of the deciding set. Her serve and forehand were producing enormous pace, leaving Zheng struggling to find a way into the rallies. The American's power was unlike anything Zheng had faced earlier in her run.

“Madison has a really strong strike, especially on the forehand," the Chinese said at press conference. "She can hit the ball super hard and super fast, which I hadn’t met from an opponent before. All the opponents I faced before didn’t hit as hard as Maddie and didn’t serve as well as Maddie.”

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Zheng eventually changed her approach, using more spin and trying to extend the rallies rather than allowing Keys to dictate with first-strike tennis. Her physical condition gave her confidence that she could survive the longer exchanges.

“When I was 0-5 behind, I was thinking that I didn’t want her to give me a 6-0 in the third set, because I thought it was a very embarrassing score for me.”

“Then suddenly, after I won the first game in the third set, I saw there was maybe some doubt, or I don’t know, and she wasn’t as clean as before. She started to make a lot of mistakes in that moment, and I started to feel like, OK, I need to be there. I need to keep fighting, don’t give up, and let’s see what’s going to happen.”

Zheng never let the opportunity disappear. She won seven games in succession, saving a match point along the way, and turned a match that Keys had seemingly controlled into one of the biggest comebacks of the tournament.

For the former world No. 4, the experience was also a reminder of what she had been missing during her difficult months away from her best tennis.

“This also gives me a lesson that in a tennis match, you always have to be there. It doesn’t matter if you’re winning or losing, if you have a match point or you don’t. You just need to concentrate on every single point for as long as you can.”

A comeback built before the US Open

The victory against Keys did not come out of nowhere. Zheng deliberately stepped away from competition in Cincinnati to give herself time to rebuild, accepting that her preparation for New York mattered more than adding another tournament to her schedule.

“When I decided not to play Cincinnati and make a block of training with my team, I accepted that I really needed to play well at the US Open. We’ve been working really hard before the US Open to try to get a good result here. But actually, I never think about the result, because I just want to fight every single match and put the energy into each match and see what happens.”

That work helped Zheng feel stronger both physically and mentally, while qualifying gave her the competitive matches she had been missing. She won three matches to reach the main draw and admitted that the moment carried considerable emotion.

“I played many matches here from qualifying. I had a lot of emotions when I was playing the qualifying matches. I was even crying after I won the third match to reach the main draw.”

The run has now completely changed the picture around Zheng. A player who entered the tournament ranked as world No. 120 is suddenly into the top 80 in the live rankings. More importantly, she has rediscovered the competitive confidence that had disappeared during her injury comeback.

Swiatek awaits after Zheng's turnaround

The next challenge could hardly be more different. Swiatek relies on heavy spin, consistency and sustained pressure rather than the overwhelming pace Keys used to build her 5-0 lead.

“I think the next opponent will be very difficult to play because I think Swiatek is a very good player," Zheng stated. "Her playing style is also a lot of spin and a lot of stability. It’s not the same as the opponents I’ve met before.”

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Zheng knows Swiatek well, having defeated her in the semifinal of the Paris Olympics before going on to win the gold medal. Their US Open meeting will therefore offer another chapter in a rivalry that has already produced one of the most important victories of Zheng's career.

For now, though, the Chinese star can enjoy what she has already achieved in New York. After months of injuries, poor results and doubts about her level, she found herself five games from defeat against Keys and somehow turned the match around.

Her reaction afterwards summed up the emotional weight of the victory. “At the end, when I won the match, it was like, ‘Oof, wow, that’s incredible.’ Finally, one time the luck was on my side, because all these three or four months I’ve been suffering a lot.”

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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