Qinwen Zheng beat Croatian Donna Vekic 7-6(2), 4-6, 6-2 in a rematch of their Paris Olympics title clash to reach the US Open quarter-finals after the pair battled back and forth in the latest finishing women’s match in the tournament’s history.
The late-night thriller at Arthur Ashe Stadium wrapped up at 2.15 am (11.45am IST) on Monday, beating the previous record for a women’s match at the year’s final grand slam by two minutes.
“It’s always nice to play in the night session because I’m used to it ... It’s the first time I’ve played here in New York at two in the morning. It’s unbelievable,” said Zheng.
“Thanks to the fans that aren’t sleeping tonight, supporting me here.”
China’s Zheng is bidding to become the fourth woman to win Olympic gold and the US Open title in the same year after Serena Williams (2012), Venus Williams (2000) and Steffi Graf (1988). She will meet second seed Aryna Sabalenka next.
The 21-year-old, who lost to Sabalenka in the Australian Open final, wrapped up an intense opening set against 24th seed Vekic in an hour after raising her level a few notches in the tiebreak.
Vekic was undeterred and responded with the first break of the match early in the second set, but dropped serve immediately as Zheng heaped the pressure on her 28-year-old opponent with some heavy shots from both flanks.Zheng’s service game briefly deserted her as Vekic broke in the 10th game with a backhand winner to draw level in the match, but the Chinese player got her nose in front in the decider and held her nerve to close out the win.
Sabalenka, the second seed and runner-up to Gauff last year, continued her impressive form to move into the last eight with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over her former doubles partner Elise Mertens.
The twice Australian Open champion was in imperious form in the first set, rock solid on her booming first serve, coming into the net to great effect, and regularly unleashing her rocket of a forehand.
Belgian Mertens made things trickier in the second stanza and the Belarusian was forced to save four break points but another 23 winners to take her match tally to 41 saw Sabalenka safely into the quarter-finals for the fourth straight year.
“I really enjoy playing here,” said Sabalenka. “The crowd are amazing. I just don’t want to leave early here, you know. I just want to stay as long as I can and enjoy this beautiful court, beautiful atmosphere.”
Muchova, Pegula up
Despite being sidelined for most of the past year, Karolina Muchova has picked up where she left off at the US Open. The 2023 semi-finalist returned to the last eight with a 6-3, 6-3 defeat of No.5 seed Jasmine Paolini in 69 minutes.
Now ranked No.52, Muchova has not dropped a set yet at Flushing Meadows. The closest she came was in her marquee second round against Naomi Osaka, in which she saved triple set point in the second set.
Her victory over Paolini marks her first top-5 win since defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the 2023 Cincinnati semi-finals, and seventh overall, and puts her into her sixth grand slam quarter-final.
No.6 seed Jessica Pegula returned to the quarter-finals of her home Grand Slam with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over No.18 seed Diana Shnaider.
The 30-year-old Pegula needed 1 hour and 27 minutes to fend off rising 20-year-old Shnaider, the youngest player to reach this week’s Round of 16.
Zverev in the hunt
In men’s action, Alexander Zverev, Grigor Dimitrov and Taylor Fritz moved into the quarter-finals in the bottom half of the draw which was left wide open after the third-round exit of four-time champion Novak Djokovic.
Also in quarters was Britain’s Jack Draper who defeated Tomas Machac 6-3, 6-1, 6-2.
Zverev, still searching for his first grand slam title at the age of 27, reached the quarter-finals at a major for the 13th time after coming from a set down to beat American Brandon Nakashima 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.
“I’m still very motivated,” said the German, who lost to Dominic Thiem on a deciding set tie-break in the 2020 final. “I still want to achieve some of my dreams.”
Fritz overcame a sluggish start to ultimately dominate eighth seed Casper Ruud 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the US Open quarter-finals for the second straight year.
Ruud was sharp at the outset, breaking for a 5-3 lead before grabbing the first set with a love hold. But the American began to make inroads against Ruud’s serve in the second and finally converted a break when the Norwegian double faulted on set point to level the match.
Ruud did not regain his form in the third. Fritz kept his foot on the gas in the fourth, hammering his 24th ace on match point to set up a quarter-final meeting with Zverev.