U.S. Open recap Day 5: An emotional win as Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen finds her tennis self
nytimes.com • • sports
Key Points:
- Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen advanced to the third round of the 2026 U.S. Open after an emotional three-set win, marking her return to competitive tennis following elbow surgery and a significant ranking drop.
- Rising temperatures and sunny weather contributed to physical struggles for seeded players Lorenzo Musetti and Félix Auger-Aliassime, both experiencing dizziness and fatigue leading to their defeats.
- Taylor Fritz showcased dominant form on hard courts with a swift victory, highlighting his preference and strategic advantage on this surface compared to grass.
- The women's draw is notable for all top 10 seeds advancing to the third round, a rare occurrence last seen at Wimbledon in 2009, indicating strong parity in the women's game.
- In contrast, the men's draw saw early exits of several top seeds, clearing a potentially easier path for No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev, who is recovering from challenging five-set matches early in the tournament.
