Tennis world stunned as grand slam champ leaves US Open in tears and 10

Alexander Zverev and Coco Gauff have managed to avoid the carnage aftertennis fans and commentators were left stunned at the US Open as the winners of a combined 10 grand slams were unceremoniously dumped out within hours of each other. Zheng Qinwen of China scored an extraordinary 7-5 6-3 win over six-time grand slam champion Iga Swiatak after trailing 0-5 in the first set.

Even more remarkable is the fact Zheng had to go through qualifying just to make the main draw at Flushing Meadows, but is now into the quarters. She's fallen from World No.4 to 121 after undergoing elbow surgery last year, but showed she's well and truly back.

Zhend reeled off seven-straight games to win the opening set after falling behind 0-5, just like she did against Madison Keys in her previous match. She then broke the Polish star twice in the second set to clinch the win over the same player she beat in the gold medal match at the Paris Olympics two years ago.

"I would say I start the match really slow. That's why she's able to lead 5-0," Zheng said. "After that, I start to play more freely because I think I need to try to find my rhythm at least for the second set. I think that's the key for me to come back. I didn't expect that today, but somehow it's just happening again."

Swiatek left the court in tears after the disappointing exit. The World No.8 won Wimbledon last year, but has struggled at grand slam level in 2026. This year is the first since 2021 that she won't win a grand slam.

Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva advance

Zheng will now face World No.2 Elena Rybakina in the quarters after the Kazakh cruised past two-time US Open winner and four-time slam champion Naomi Osaka 6-1 6-4. Rybakina was the heavy favourite to win, but the manner in which she dispatched Osaka left the tennis world in awe.

Rybakina will overtake Aryna Sabalenka and become World No.1 if she reaches the semi-finals in Flushing Meadows. "Of course I want it, I don't know anyone who wouldn't wish this, but definitely that's one of my goals," Rybakina said. "I try to approach the same way, try to do everything I can, fight until the end my next match and let's see what's going to happen."

Earllier, French Open champion Mirra Andreeva came back to beat 24th seed Anastasia Potapova 5-7 6-4 6-3. She'll face fourth-seed Coco Guaff in the quarters after the American beat teenage compatriot Iva Jovic 6-1 6-4.

Alexander Zverev makes it through untroubled

On the men's side, Alexander Blockx beat Francisco Cerundolo 6-3 4-6 7-5 7-5 to become the first man from Belgium to reach the US Open quarters. He'll face Karen Khachanov, who knocked out 14th seed Learner Tien in a five-set thriller.

Botic van de Zandschulp then came from two-sets down to stun Arthur Gea, and his reward is a quarter-final date with Zverev. The Wimbledon champ beat 21st seed Luciano Darderi in straight sets to round out the day's play.

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