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Zheng Qinwen's Historic 0-5 Comeback Stuns US Open

PUBLISHED Sep 5, 2026, 5:18 PM ET

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Media Bias Meter

Sources: 18

Left 17%

Center 78%

Right 6%

Sources: 18

Chinese tennis player Zheng Qinwen achieved a historic comeback at the US Open, defeating 22nd seed Madison Keys 1-6, 7-6(3), 7-5. The match, held in New York, saw Keys dominate the opening set before Zheng rallied through a tight second-set tiebreak. In the deciding third set, Keys surged to a 5-0 lead and served for the match, but Zheng mounted an extraordinary recovery by winning six consecutive games to secure the victory. The win ended a 31-year drought, marking the first time since 1995 that a player has won a Grand Slam main draw match after facing a 0-5 deficit in the final set. Zheng, who entered the tournament as a qualifier, advanced to the Round of 16, mirroring past Cinderella runs at Flushing Meadows. She credited her resilience and coaching team for maintaining focus during the high-pressure turnaround.

By Emily Rhodes | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

On September 6 1995 A similar Grand Slam final set comeback occurred historically.
On August 25 2021 Emma Raducanu achieved a notable US Open qualifying run.
On August 28 2024 Zheng Qinwen began her campaign as a tournament qualifier.
On September 1 2024 Madison Keys advanced through earlier rounds of the tournament.
On September 3 2024 Zheng faced Madison Keys in New York City.
On September 3 2024 Madison Keys dominated the first set winning six-one.
On September 3 2024 Zheng Qinwen claimed the second set via tiebreak victory.
On September 3 2024 Madison Keys secured a commanding five-zero final set lead.
On September 3 2024 Zheng completed six consecutive game wins to take victory.
On September 6 2026 Freshness search confirmed no newer material match developments existed.

News Intelligence

Immediate US impact: Inspires US tennis fans with an unforgettable historic sports comeback.
Possible long-term US impact: Elevates global profile and marketability of emerging international tennis stars.
Most affected groups: American tennis fans, sports media outlets, and tournament organizers.
Reader priority: Prioritize official match statistics and verified tournament press releases online.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 18
Right Leaning:: 1
Left Leaning:: 3
Neutral:: 14

Explain Framing

Left: Highlighting athletic perseverance and inspiring stories of international sports underdogs. Center: Reporting factual match scores statistics and historic tournament statistical context. Right: Emphasizing competitive resilience and individual athletic grit during high-pressure moments.