US Open 2024: Olympic gold medalist Zheng mounts comeback to win first-round match

Zheng Qinwen, the Olympic gold medalist in women’s tennis, staged an impressive comeback on Monday to secure her place in the U.S. Open second round with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Amanda Anisimova.

Zheng, who kicked off the Grand Slam season by reaching the final of the Australian Open, faced a tough challenge in Anisimova. The American player had recently reached the final of a hard-court tournament in Montreal and climbed back into the top 50 of the WTA rankings.

Despite dropping the first set, the No. 7 seed from China adapted to Anisimova’s power game as the match progressed, ultimately advancing to the next round. Fresh off becoming China’s first singles gold medalist at the Paris Olympics, Zheng is now shifting her focus back to the Grand Slams.

“I’m happy about what I did in the past, but right now I just want to focus here,” Zheng commented after the match.

Meanwhile, Maria Sakkari, the No. 9 seed from Greece, became the first seeded player to exit the tournament, retiring after losing the first set to China’s Wang Yafan. Sakkari, who also exited in the first round last year at Flushing Meadows, received shoulder treatment during the match.

Defending champions Coco Gauff and Novak Djokovic were among the high-profile players scheduled for later in the day. Gauff faced Varvara Gracheva in Arthur Ashe Stadium in the afternoon, while Djokovic took on Radu Albot in the night session.

Other notable players in action included 2023 runner-up Aryna Sabalenka, and Americans Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz. The top seeds, Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner, are set to begin their campaigns on Tuesday. Sinner has attracted significant attention after it was revealed that he tested positive for steroids twice in March but avoided suspension.