US Open 2026: Iga Swiatek’s four-year streak ends with fourth-round exit
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Qinwen Zheng stunned Iga Swiatek at Flushing Meadows
Iga Swiatek of Poland suffered a shock fourth-round loss to China’s Qinwen Zheng at the US Open 2026, ending her campaign at Flushing Meadows. This defeat meant that Swiatek would finish a calendar year without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2021, ending a remarkable four-year streak.
Eighth-seed Swiatek took a 5-0 lead in the opening set. However, she surrendered the lead to a persistent Zheng, losing 7-5, 6-3. This marked a remarkable comeback for former World No. 4 Zheng, who is the reigning Olympic champion.
A six-time Grand Slam champion, Swiatek entered the US Open as one of the title contenders after winning the tournament in 2022. She later admitted that a flurry of errors hurt her game during the match.
“I just started making too many mistakes. I tried to correct the situation, but at that point nothing was working anymore,” she said after the match. “I knew I would have another chance and I wanted to take advantage of it, but I missed them all.”
This result caps a disappointing season for former world No. 1 Swiatek. The Polish star’s major results in 2026 were a quarter-final appearance at the Australian Open, a fourth-round exit at the French Open, a third-round defeat at Wimbledon, and now a fourth-round loss at the US Open.
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End of Iga Swiatek’s four-year Grand Slam run
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Swiatek has enjoyed remarkable consistency at the biggest tournaments ever since breaking through at a young age. She has won a Grand Slam for four consecutive years since 2021.
Swiatek won two majors in 2022, at Roland Garros and the US Open. She defended her French Open title in 2023 and 2024. In 2025, she won Wimbledon for the first time.
However, her title drought in 2026 has ended that sequence. The last time she did not win a Grand Slam was in 2021, when she suffered a fourth-round exit at the US Open. However, at just 25, the Polish star has time on her side to bounce back next season.
Who won the Iga Swiatek vs Qinwen Zheng US Open 2026 match?
Qinwen Zheng defeated Swiatek in the fourth round, winning 7‑5, 6‑3.
How many Grand Slam titles has Iga Swiatek won?
Swiatek is a six‑time Grand Slam champion, with victories at the French Open (2020, 2022, 2023, 2024), US Open (2022), and Wimbledon (2025).
How many Grand Slam titles has Qinwen Zheng won?
Zheng has not yet won a Grand Slam, though she was runner‑up at the Australian Open 2024 and is the reigning Olympic singles champion.
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