Iga Swiatek Shocked by Qinwen Zheng at US Open 2026, First Year Without Grand Slam Since 2026

New York, USA – Iga Swiatek entered the fourth round of the 2026 US Open as the eighth seed, a former champion at Flushing Meadows in 2026 and the owner of six Grand Slam titles. But tonight on Arthur Ashe Stadium, she suffered one of the most bitter defeats of her career. After leading 5-0 in the opening set, Swiatek let opponent Qinwen Zheng win seven consecutive games, then lost 7-5, 6-3. The result not only eliminated her from the tournament, but also ended her streak of four consecutive seasons with at least one Grand Slam title. This is the first time since 2026 that the former world number one has finished a calendar year without lifting a major trophy. At the Australian Open, she stopped in the quarterfinals. Roland Garros, the tournament she once dominated, saw her lose in the fourth round. On Wimbledon's grass courts, she could not go further than the third round. And now the US Open – where she previously triumphed – also bid her farewell in the fourth round. A year without a Grand Slam title is something few imagined when she was consecutively winning in Paris and New York. The match against Zheng began like a dream. Swiatek won points from the first game, served solidly, returned sharply and raced to a 5-0 lead. But from that moment, everything fell apart. Zheng began returning deeper, attacking Swiatek's weaknesses and applying constant pressure. Long rallies came, and whenever forced to move extensively, Swiatek tended to overhit. The result was a succession of unforced errors, allowing her opponent to level and eventually take control. Fans may remember a resilient Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros, but at this year's US Open, the Polish player could not maintain stability in decisive moments. She admitted she made too many mistakes and could not find a way to fix them as the match slipped away. “I tried to correct the situation, but at that point nothing was working anymore. I knew I would have another chance and I wanted to take advantage of it, but I missed them all,” Swiatek said. This shock is even more significant because her opponent is a former world number four and reigning Olympic champion. Zheng was not rattled despite trailing 5-0. She played patiently, avoided unnecessary risks and waited for Swiatek to make errors. The turning point came in the sixth game of the first set, when Zheng broke serve. From then on, she fully controlled the match: hitting deep, covering the court well and posing difficult questions for Swiatek. This defeat shows that the gap between a top seed and an Olympic champion is narrowing considerably. For Zheng, beating a big opponent like Swiatek will surely be a massive confidence boost. She has faced top players at major tournaments before, but rarely produced such an impressive comeback at an iconic venue. Now the door to a deep run at the 2026 US Open is wide open for her. If she maintains the form shown against Swiatek, Zheng is fully capable of competing for a semifinal spot, or even more. From Swiatek's perspective, the 2026 season raises many questions. Her dominance at Roland Garros was once seen as the foundation for new records, but being eliminated early at her favorite tournament is a worrying sign. This is not the first time Swiatek has struggled to stay at the top, but she has never experienced a year in which she failed to get past the quarterfinals at all four Grand Slams. With a busy schedule and the rise of the next generation, she needs long-term strategic adjustments rather than relying only on physical power. In many ways, this loss to Zheng in New York is a late warning for Swiatek's coaching team. A true Grand Slam player not only needs a good start, but also must overcome difficult moments. Swiatek showed she is still one of the best players in the world, but if she does not soon fix her mental fragility in long matches, major trophies will move further away. As for Zheng, this victory is just the beginning. What she does next at this year's tournament will answer whether she has truly entered the list of title contenders or merely produced a one-time shock.