NEW YORK — For 23-year-old Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen, fighting through the US Open qualifying draw was more than a series of matches — it was a psychological test few elite athletes are ever forced to take. Reserved for rising prospects or veterans on the decline, the qualifying tournament is not a space designed for players with Zheng’s decorated resume: a former world Top 4, Olympic gold medalist, and Grand Slam finalist who has competed on the sport’s biggest stages for years.
“Psychologically, it is very difficult to accept,” Zheng said in an interview after booking her spot in the US Open quarterfinals. “I mean, I used to be top 10, Olympic champion. I’ve played in the big stadiums since the beginning.”
Today, that unlikely qualifying run has turned into one of the most compelling stories of this year’s tournament. After rallying from staggering 5-0 deficits in two consecutive main-draw matches — first against 22nd seed Madison Keys, then against world No. 8 Iga Swiatek — Zheng has surged into the final eight, rekindling the form that made her one of the sport’s most promising talents just a few years ago.
Zheng’s path to this quarterfinal run has been marked by setback, injury and relentless work to rebuild her career. Once ranked as high as 4th in the WTA rankings, she notched a string of landmark achievements in 2024: she reached the Australian Open final, secured a second consecutive trip to the US Open quarterfinals, and made history by winning China’s first Olympic tennis gold medal since the sport’s return to the Olympic program in 1988.
But a devastating elbow injury that required surgery derailed her momentum. Between July 2025 and February 2026, Zheng competed in just one professional tournament, and her extended time off the court sent her ranking plummeting to 121th in the world — too low to earn an automatic main-draw spot at the sport’s four major championships.
“I couldn’t perform well the last three, four months. I know people had a lot of doubt about me, and it’s just really hard for me,” Zheng recalled. “I just need to keep positive every single day, telling myself just keep working and let’s see when the result is going to happen. It is a really, really tough process. I suffered a lot, and I have been through a lot of pain every single loss that I have.”
The turning point of her comeback came just one month ago in Toronto, where Zheng attempted to qualify for the city’s WTA 1000 Masters tournament. She exited in straight sets to Lanlana Tararudee, a defeat she describes as a career-low “disaster” performance. Instead of sinking into defeat, the loss sparked a critical reset.
After the match, Zheng’s coach pulled her aside for a frank conversation. “He told me, ‘You can’t continue playing like this. You need to have a training block and find your tennis again,’” Zheng said. It took just five seconds for her to agree to the plan.
The pair relocated to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, for an intensive training block. For weeks, Zheng focused entirely on rebuilding her game: 12-hour days split between on-court practice and gym work, with no distractions from tournament travel or competition. “It was really tough, but this is how sport shows,” Zheng said. “If you don’t work hard, you don’t have it.”
That grueling work translated immediately to results when Zheng arrived in New York. She won three qualifying matches to secure her main-draw spot, then pulled off two of the most dramatic comebacks in this year’s tournament. Against Keys, she trailed 0-5 in the deciding third set, saved a match point, and rallied to win 1-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5. Three days later against 2022 US Open champion Swiatek, she overcame another 0-5 opening set deficit, adjusting to the unique atmosphere of Arthur Ashe Stadium to oust the world No. 8 with a 7-5, 6-3 victory.
Her next challenge will come Wednesday against second seed Elena Rybakina, who will rise to the top of the WTA rankings if she claims a win. Rybakina acknowledged the threat Zheng poses, noting that the Chinese star has clearly regained her top form and momentum after her recent winning streak.
“Well, she definitely found her form, and I feel like she’s playing now with a lot of confidence after so many wins in a row,” Rybakina said. “So she’s very dangerous.”
With her run to the quarterfinals, Zheng made history of her own: she is the first qualifier to reach the US Open quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows since Emma Raducanu’s fairytale title run in 2021. For Zheng, the result is far more than a tournament achievement — it is proof that her hard-fought comeback is real.
Zheng said she never lost faith that she could return to elite tennis, even when progress was slower than she hoped. For every early loss and every moment of doubt, she leaned into the work, trusting it would pay off eventually.
“I’m just really happy to be back again,” she said. “I mean, if that’s what God gives to me, all the losses before, I’m sure that he will give me something back, no?”