Zheng Qinwen, the rising star from China, has stormed into the quarterfinals of the US Open after a thrilling late-night victory over Croatian Donna Vekic. The match, which concluded at 2:15 AM on Monday, set a new record for the latest-finishing women’s match in the tournament’s history.
Zheng, who won the Olympic gold medal in Paris earlier this year, displayed her resilience and determination throughout the three-hour battle. After losing the second set, she regained her composure and dominated the decider to secure a 7-6(2), 4-6, 6-2 victory.
The 21-year-old Zheng is now one step closer to becoming the fourth woman to win both the Olympic gold and the US Open title in the same year. She will face second seed Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals, a rematch of their Australian Open final earlier this year.
Zheng’s victory was particularly impressive considering Vekic’s strong performance on hard courts. The Croatian had reached the quarterfinals of the US Open in 2019 and was determined to make another deep run this year. However, Zheng’s aggressive play and unwavering focus proved too much for her opponent.
Zheng’s victory is a testament to her growing maturity and confidence on the big stage. She has now reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the second time in her career, and her performance at the US Open suggests that she is capable of even greater things in the future.
