US Open 2024: China’s Zheng Qinwen Charges Into Quarterfinals

China’s Zheng Qinwen advanced to the US Open quarter-finals for the second time by defeating Croatia’s Donna Vekic in a match that set a record for the latest finish in a women’s game at the tournament. The game concluded at 2:15 a.m. on Monday, surpassing the previous record set in 2021 when Maria Sakkari defeated Bianca Andreescu at 2:13 a.m. Seventh-seeded Zheng, who had previously bested Vekic at the Paris Olympics final, won with scores of 7-6 (7/2), 4-6, 6-2.

After the match, Zheng, experiencing her first night session in New York, expressed her appreciation for the fans who stayed late, remarking on the uniqueness of playing at such a late hour to a sparse crowd in the vast 24,000-seat Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The 21-year-old Zheng, now one of only two Chinese women alongside Li Na to reach the quarter-finals in New York twice, is set to face world number two Aryna Sabalenka. Sabalenka previously defeated Zheng in the quarter-finals last year and in the Australian Open final earlier this year. Zheng managed a strong start against Vekic, winning the first set without facing a break point, before Vekic evened the score in the second set. Ultimately, Zheng prevailed in the final set, securing her advancement in the tournament.