One gets through, one falls short: Zheng Qinwen reaches US Open while Andreescu crashes out
WTASaturday, 29 August 2026 at 00:30
Just two days before the start of the US Open main draw, the final places in the women's 128-player field have been decided, with Zheng Qinwen producing a statement run through qualifying while Bianca Andreescu fell one victory short of reaching Flushing Meadows.
The qualifying tournament determined the final 16 players to join the US Open main draw, and Zheng was undoubtedly the biggest name among them. The former world No. 4 entered qualifying after a significant ranking slide caused by injuries, but responded with three consecutive victories to return to a Grand Slam main draw.
Andreescu, meanwhile, suffered another disappointment in qualifying. The 2019 US Open champion won her first two matches convincingly but could not complete her run, losing to former Roland Garros semifinalist Tamara Zidansek in the third round after initially taking control of the match.
For Zheng, the result marks an important step in rebuilding her position on the WTA Tour. The Chinese star had not played Grand Slam qualifying since the 2022 Australian Open, which was also her first appearance in a major main draw. Since then, she had qualified directly for the next 14 Grand Slam main draws before injuries disrupted her momentum.
Zheng Qinwen storms back into the US Open main draw
Zheng entered the US Open as the No. 121 player in the world after an injury-hit period that saw her ranking fall significantly. She had still remained high enough to compete at Roland Garros and Wimbledon earlier this year, but first-round defeats at both tournaments contributed to her ranking decline.
That ultimately forced the former Olympic gold medalist into qualifying in New York for the first time since 2022. She made the most of the opportunity.
Zheng Qinwen reached the quarterfinals in her last two appareances at US Open (2023, 2024).
Zheng opened with straight-set victories over Xiaodi You and Clara Burel before facing Elena Pridankina in the final qualifying round. That match was interrupted by rain during the second set, but Zheng returned in dominant fashion and completed the victory with a bagel to secure her place in the main draw.
She will now face 16-year-old Russian Kristina Liutova in the first round. Liutova arrives with considerable momentum after winning her first WTA 250 title in Memphis last week as a qualifier and has now won nine consecutive matches on hard courts.
Zheng has an impressive US Open record to build on. She has made three previous appearances between 2022 and 2024, reaching the quarterfinals in her last two editions and compiling a 10-3 record. If she beats Liutova, she could face another Olympic champion in the second round, with Tokyo 2020 gold medalist Belinda Bencic a potential opponent.
Andreescu falls short once again
Andreescu's route back to the US Open ended in another qualifying disappointment.
The Canadian had already been forced through Grand Slam qualifying several times over the past two seasons, missing out at the 2025 French Open and Wimbledon and again at Roland Garros this year. She managed to reverse that trend at Wimbledon, successfully navigating qualifying before losing to Shuai Zhang in the first round in two tiebreaks.
Her return to Flushing Meadows initially looked promising.
Despite missing out on a main-draw wildcard, Andreescu destroyed Eva Vedder and Veronika Podrez, dropping only three games against each opponent. However, the former champion could not maintain that level against Zidansek.
Andreescu won the opening set 6-2 but faded as the match progressed, with Zidansek recovering to win 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 and end her hopes of returning to the main draw.
It means Andreescu will miss the US Open once again, having made only one appearance at the tournament in the last four years, reaching the first round in 2024.
Since winning the title in 2019, she has played only three of the next seven editions, missing three because of injury and now falling short through qualifying. For Zheng, meanwhile, New York represents a very different opportunity: a chance to rebuild her ranking and regain the Grand Slam stage she had become accustomed to before her recent setbacks.
The qualified players for the main draw of the US Open
| Player | Ranking | |
| 1 | Robin Montgomery | No. 187 |
| 2 | Lucie Havlíčková | No. 225 |
| 3 | Francesca Jones (3) | No. 104 |
| 4 | Storm Hunter | No. 169 |
| 5 | Arantxa Rus | No. 203 |
| 6 | Harriet Dart (29) | No. 131 |
| 7 | Polina Iatcenko | No. 160 |
| 8 | Elvina Kalieva (8) | No. 115 |
| 9 | Lucrezia Stefanini (28) | No. 119 |
| 10 | Tamara Zidanšek | No. 146 |
| 11 | Gabriela Knutson | No. 184 |
| 12 | Himeno Sakatsume (23) | No. 144 |
| 13 | Mary Stoiana (17) | No. 122 |
| 14 | Qinwen Zheng (14) | No. 121 |
| 15 | Anouk Koevermans | No. 228 |
| 16 | Kristina Liutova (16) | No. 125 |
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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