New York hosted an unforgettable day of tennis at Flushing Meadows, where Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen orchestrated one of the most astonishing comebacks in recent US Open history. Down 0-5 in the deciding set against 2017 finalist Madison Keys, the Chinese star staged a relentless fightback, saving a match point along the way to capture seven consecutive games and secure her berth in the fourth round with a 1-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5 victory.
Match Point Missed: Keys Fails to Close Out Against Zheng
The match began with Madison Keys in complete control, dominating the opening set 6-1 with aggressive groundstrokes. Zheng Qinwen recalibrated her game in the second set, eventually forcing a tiebreak and taking it 7-3. However, Keys quickly re-established momentum in the third set, surging to a commanding 5-0 lead. Serving for the match at 5-1, Keys was presented with a match point opportunity to close out the contest. The turning point arrived when Keys failed to convert that crucial chance, opening the door for Zheng to break back and mount an extraordinary streak. As unforced errors crept into her game, Keys was seen repeatedly tapping her racket against her head in visible frustration. After dropping seven games in a row, Keys candidly reflected on how fear and intense pressure crippled her shot-making during the closing stages. Meanwhile, Zheng collapsed onto her back on the hard court in celebration. Zheng remarked, "Hard work pays off." Her victory sets up a high-stakes fourth-round encounter against 2022 US Open champion Iga Swiatek.
Osaka Overcomes Third-Set Deficit to Defeat Mertens
Former champion Naomi Osaka also had to dig deep into her reserves to survive a demanding third-round battle against Elise Mertens. Seeded 13th in the tournament, Osaka emerged victorious with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 scoreline after a grueling battle lasting two hours and 38 minutes. Osaka encountered severe turbulence in the final set, falling behind 2-4 as Mertens pushed her to the limit. Showing character under pressure, the two-time New York winner rallied to claim four of the final five games. Upon winning the match point, Osaka rested her head on her racket, visibly astonished at her own victory. She confessed afterwards that she was genuinely shocked by the result and apologized for venting her frustration during tight moments of the match.
Taylor Fritz Collapses After Two-Set Lead Against Cerundolo
While the women's stars survived high-wire acts, the men's draw witnessed a major seed exit as ninth-seeded American Taylor Fritz was ousted in dramatic fashion. Fritz seemed on course for a routine victory after comfortably capturing the first two sets 6-3, 6-4 against Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo. However, the 24th seed refused to surrender, shifting his tactical approach to systematically dismantle Fritz's rhythm. Cerundolo stormed back to win the remaining three sets 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, completing a remarkable five-set upset. A crestfallen Fritz later expressed complete bewilderment over how he allowed a two-set cushion to slip away completely.
