China's Zheng Qinwen made headlines by advancing to the US Open quarterfinals for the second time, with a dramatic victory over Donna Vekic that concluded at 2:15 a.m. on Monday, setting a new record for the latest finish in a women's match. Zheng, seeded seventh, triumphed with scores of 7-6 (7/2), 4-6, 6-2 against the 24th-ranked Croatian, repeating her win over Vekic from the Paris Olympics final just a month prior.
The match surpassed the previous record of 2:13 a.m. set in 2021 when Maria Sakkari defeated Bianca Andreescu in the last 16. Zheng expressed her appreciation for the late-night support, noting the unusual but exciting experience of playing so late in New York, even with only a few hundred fans remaining in the vast Arthur Ashe Stadium.
At just 21 years old, Zheng has now become only the second Chinese woman to reach the quarterfinals in New York on two occasions, following Li Na's achievements in 2009 and 2013. Zheng's performance in the tournament highlights her rising status in the tennis world.
In her next match, Zheng will face world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated her in both the 2023 US Open quarterfinals and the Australian Open final in January. Zheng’s resilience in the final set against Vekic underscores her readiness for the upcoming challenge.
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