China’s Zheng Qinwen reached the US Open quarter-finals for a second time with victory over Donna Vekic in a record late finish for a women’s match of 2:15 a.m. (US EST) on Monday.
Seventh-seed Zheng won 7-6 (7/2), 4-6, 6-2 against her 24th-ranked Croatian opponent who she also defeated in the Paris Olympics final four weeks ago.
The early morning finish beat the old record of 2:13 a.m. from 2021 when Maria Sakkari defeated Bianca Andreescu in a last-16 tie.
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“I like to play in the night session. Here in New York it’s my first time,” said Zheng in front of a few hundred spectators in the 24,000-capacity Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“It’s two in the morning, it’s incredible. Thanks to the fans who have stayed to support me.”
While the Australian Open has become known for its late finishes, with Daniil Medvedev completing a second-round win this year at 3:39am, the problem is now spreading across tennis with longer matches the clear problem.
Recently retired champion Andy Murray gave voice to those baffled by tennis’ inability to fix its obvious problem of ridiculous late nights at grand slams.
“The tennis scheduling situation is a total mess. It looks so amateurish having matches going on at 2,3 4am (thumbs down). Sort it out,” he tweeted.
The powerful 21-year-old Zheng is only the second Chinese woman to appear in two quarter-finals in New York after Li Na in 2009 and 2013.
Zheng will next face world number two Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated her in the last-eight in 2023 as well as in the final of the Australian Open in January.
Zheng edged a tight first set against Vekic where she didn’t face a single break point before the experienced Croatian levelled the last-16 clash.
However, Zheng finished the stronger and claimed her place in the next round.
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