Zheng goes from 5-0 and match point down to victory

Zheng Qinwen defied the odds to triumph in her US Open third-round match against Madison Keys, recovering from a 5-0 deficit and a match point to claim a thrilling 1-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 victory. The Olympic champion, who had to battle through qualifying to reach the main draw, had appeared to be on track for a comfortable win after dominating the first set in just 23 minutes.

However, Zheng's remarkable comeback saw her rally and seal the deal on a tie-break before clinching the match against the 22nd seed. Keys, the 2025 Australian Open winner, had seemed poised for an impressive win following her opening set victory. Nevertheless, Zheng's resilience and determination prevailed, propelling her into the women's fourth round at the US Open - a first for a qualifier since Britain's Emma Raducanu's 2021 triumph.

Zheng, who had faced her lowest ranking of 160 and had to compete in a Grand Slam qualifying event this year, credited her resurgence to a combination of luck and persistence. "I am just telling myself to never give up," Zheng said, reflecting on her emotional journey. "Tennis is a rollercoaster, and I've seen people come back from match points before, but this time, we made it happen."