Zheng stuns Swiatek from 5-0 down to reach US Open quarter-finals

Zheng Qinwen is through to the US Open quarter-finals after another improbable comeback, this time toppling Iga Swiatek from 5-0 down in the first set. The Chinese qualifier, a Paris Olympics gold medallist whose ranking has slipped to 121st after elbow surgery, reeled off seven straight games and broke the six-time Grand Slam champion twice in the second set to seal the win.

The victory came just two days after Zheng saved a match point and won the last seven games to shock Madison Keys. Against Swiatek on the cavernous Arthur Ashe Stadium court, she again looked lost early before finding her rhythm. "I guess to come back from 0-5 is not lucky, that's all I can say," Zheng said. She admitted it took time to settle on a main show court, adding that she was so focused on the rallies she lost track of the score.

Swiatek, who lost to Zheng in the Olympic gold medal match in Paris two years ago, left the stadium in tears but later played down the defeat. "You can lose a set from any score, so nothing special about that," she said. Zheng is the first qualifier to beat Swiatek at a major, and the first qualifier to reach the US Open women's quarter-finals since Emma Raducanu in 2021.

Rybakina can reclaim number one spot

Zheng now faces Elena Rybakina, the world number two and reigning Australian Open champion, who cruised past a hurting Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-4 in just 66 minutes. The stakes are higher than a semi-final place alone. If Rybakina beats Zheng, she will take the number one ranking from Aryna Sabalenka, regardless of whether the Belarusian wins a third consecutive US Open title. "Of course I want it," Rybakina said. "I try to approach the same, fight to the end my next match, let's see what will happen."

Fourth-seeded Coco Gauff reached the quarter-finals for the first time since she won the title in 2023, beating 18-year-old compatriot Iva Jovic 6-1, 6-4. Gauff next faces fifth-seeded French Open champion Mirra Andreeva, who came through 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 against Anastasia Potapova.

Zverev and Blockx keep late-night crowd entertained

Top seed Alexander Zverev closed the night session on Ashe with a 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7/3) win over 21st-seeded Italian Luciano Darderi. The French Open champion has become a late-night fixture in New York, having played into the early hours in his first three matches, including two five-setters. Against Darderi he saved the only break point he faced and wrapped up the match before midnight with an ace after a third-set tiebreak.

Zverev will meet Botic van de Zandschulp, who saved a match point and recovered from two sets down to beat France's Arthur Gea 3-6, 6-7 (0/7), 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 in five hours and 13 minutes. The Dutchman is back in the quarter-finals for the first time since 2021, when he made a name for himself with a second-round upset of Carlos Alcaraz.

Alexander Blockx's dream debut continued with a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory over Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo, making the 21-year-old the first Belgian man to reach the US Open last eight. Blockx, who began the year ranked outside the top 100, said he was "close to retiring" because of sharp pain from an injured rib in the first set. He next plays Karen Khachanov, after the Russian beat 14th-seeded American Learner Tien 7-5, 4-6, 6-7 (6/8), 6-1, 6-4.

The remaining fourth-round matches will decide whether the tournament continues to reward experience or throws up another surprise. For now, Zheng and Blockx have given the fortnight its most unlikely storylines.