Iga Świątek Stunned by Zheng's Epic Comeback in US Open

Iga Świątek's 2026 US Open campaign is over. The Polish eighth seed suffered a stunning fourth-round defeat on Monday, September 7, falling 7-5, 6-3 to China's Zheng Qinwen on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Świątek had raced to a 5-0 lead in the first set before her game unraveled against the resurgent Olympic champion.

How did Zheng Qinwen pull off another impossible comeback?

For the second match in a row, Zheng Qinwen won a set after trailing 5-0. She achieved the same feat against Madison Keys in the previous round. Against Świątek, she won 13 of the next 16 games after that initial deficit. Zheng said her focus was so intense she forgot the score. "I guess to come back last time is not lucky," she stated after the match, dismissing any notion of fluke. Her victory, a seventh straight in New York after coming through qualifying, sets up a quarterfinal against second seed Elena Rybakina.

What went wrong for Iga Świątek?

Świątek started the match with the controlled aggression that recently earned her the Canadian Open title. But once Zheng held serve to get on the board at 5-1, the Pole's composure cracked. Sources indicate a persistent issue with her serve resurfaced. Despite working with coach Francisco Roig to refine her baseline game, her serve has not seen similar improvements. She was broken twice in the second set, including a important break in the seventh game off a powerful Zheng backhand return. Świątek left the court in tears, a stark contrast to her dominant start.

What does this loss mean for Świątek's season?

The defeat marks another setback in a challenging 12-month period for the six-time major champion. It continues a difficult pattern against Zheng, whose only previous win in eight meetings came in the semi-finals of the 2024 Olympics. While Świątek showed flashes of her best form in building the early lead, she could not sustain it under pressure. The loss prevents a deep run at a Grand Slam where she was champion in 2022, and it will be a point of analysis as she looks ahead to the rest of the season.

Who else advanced on US Open Day 9?

The women's quarterfinal lineup was completed with several other big names moving on. Elena Rybakina, the second seed, sped past former champion Naomi Osaka. French Open winner Mirra Andreeva also reached the last eight in New York for the first time after a three-set win. On the men's side, top seed Alexander Zverev advanced routinely, while Coco Gauff moved past Iva Jović. American hope Learner Tien fell in five sets to Karen Khachanov.

• KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Iga Świątek lost in the US Open fourth round on September 7, 2026.
• Zheng Qinwen came back from 5-0 down in the first set to win 7-5, 6-3.
• Zheng, a qualifier and the 2024 Olympic gold medalist, will face Elena Rybakina next.
• Świątek's defeat continues a tough run against Zheng and highlights ongoing serve struggles.