China’s Zheng Qinwen reached the US Open quarter-finals at 02:15am on Monday in a document late end for a ladies’s match on the match.
Seventh-seed Zheng defeated Croatian Donna Vekic 7-6 (7-2) 4-6 6-2 to beat the earlier document of 02:13am from 2021, when Maria Sakkari beat Bianca Andreescu in a last-16 tie.
Zheng, who beat Vekic last 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 mentioned the scheduling was “amateurish” and “a complete mess”, calling for the Grand Slam organisers to “type it out”.
Talking after the match, Zheng mentioned: “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. Due to the followers who’ve stayed to assist me.”
Current 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 implies 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 end on Sunday, mentioned 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, external on Monday morning following Zheng’s victory, Murray wrote: “The tennis scheduling state of affairs is a complete mess. It seems so amateurish having matches happening at 2,3, 4am. Kind it out.”