China’s Zheng Qinwen reached the US Open quarter-finals at 02:15am on Monday in a file late end for a ladies’s match on the event.
Seventh-seed Zheng defeated Croatian Donna Vekic 7-6 (7-2) 4-6 6-2 to beat the earlier file of 02:13am from 2021, when Maria Sakkari beat Bianca Andreescu in a last-16 tie.
Zheng, who beat Vekic final month to win Olympic gold within the singles in Paris, will now face world quantity two Aryna Sabalenka on Tuesday.
The late end drew criticism from 2012 US Open champion Andy Murray, who stated the scheduling was “amateurish” and “a complete mess”, calling for the Grand Slam organisers to “type it out”.
Talking after the match, Zheng stated: “I prefer to play within the evening session. Right here in New York it is my first time.
“It is two within the morning, it is unbelievable. Because of the followers who’ve stayed to assist me.”
Latest late finishes on the French Open and Australian Open have been criticised by gamers.
In January, the ATP and WTA Excursions collectively introduced in a brand new rule which suggests no matches can begin after 11pm.
Nevertheless, the ruling has not been utilized to the 4 majors, which make their very own insurance policies.
In June, 2023 US Open winner Coco Gauff, who noticed her defence finish on Sunday, stated tennis matches ending at 3am was “unhealthy” for gamers after Novak Djokovic wrapped up a five-set victory towards Lorenzo Musetti at 3:07am on the French Open.
Britain’s three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray has been vocal about late finishes, having performed until 4am on the Australian Open in January 2023.
Taking to X, exterior on Monday morning following Zheng’s victory, Murray wrote: “The tennis scheduling scenario is a complete mess. It appears so amateurish having matches happening at 2,3, 4am. Type it out.”
