Olympic champion Zheng storms home to reach US Open last 16
NEW YORK: Zheng Qinwen pulled off an epic upset, winning the last seven games to stun Madison Keys and keep her unlikely US Open challenge going on Saturday.
In a thrilling upset at the US Open, Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen stunned Madison Keys by reaching the match's last 16. The Chinese tennis prodigy won the match 1-6, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5, showcasing her return to form following elbow surgery last year. Zheng, ranked as low as the former world number four, had to qualify for the main draw.
This emotional journey for the 23-year-old included moments of doubt, but she managed to regain her competitive spirit. Confessing to "forgetting how to compete" during her absence, Zheng now feels her "competitive fire burning" amid her early US Open challenge. After recovering from 0-5, she stated, "I don't want to be beaten 6-0."
The vocal support for Keys was no match for Zheng's perseverance. She attributed her improved performance to Keys' diminished focus, causing her to make more mistakes. Despite struggling initially with Keys' forehand, Zheng saved a match point at 5-1 in the third set, and the victory felt like a "Wow" moment.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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