US Open: Zheng Qinwen wins Paris Olympics final rematch in latest women’s match ever
Seventh seed reached quarter-finals after beating Donna Vekic with court action finishing at 2.15am local time
Zheng Qinwen beat Donna Vekic for the second time in less than a month, although this time there was a place in the US Open quarter-finals on the line and not Olympic gold.
In the latest finish ever to a women’s match at the tournament, the pair battled it out until 2.15am on Monday in New York, with the Chinese world No 7 eventually prevailing 7-6, 4-6, 6-2.
It beat the previous record set in 2021 at Flushing Meadows when Maria Sakkari completed her victory over 2019-winner Bianca Andreescu in the round of 16 at 2.13am.
“She’s really tough to play on a hard court,” Zheng said after the match, which lasted two hours and 50 minutes. “Today she put a lot of pressure [on me], she hit really aggressive.
“It’s two in the morning, it’s incredible. Thanks to the fans who have stayed to support me.”
The difference between each player was razor thin in the first set, with neither losing serve and combining for a mere 13 unforced errors through the first 12 games. But when Vekic began missing in the tight moments during the tiebreak, Zheng ran away with the set to close it by a 7-2 margin.
