Andy Murray has slammed the US Open schedule after a late-night finish in the women’s singles made history at the Grand Slam. In a rematch of the Paris Olympics final, Qinwen Zheng beat Donna Vekic in three sets, with the match ending at 2.15 am local time.
Late-night finishes have become a recurrent issue that has never been properly dealt with by the organizers of major tournaments. In January, the ATP and WTA agreed on a new rule that no match should start after 11 pm. However, the tennis body has failed to apply the ruling at the four Grand Slam events this year.
At the French Open, Novak Djokovic admitted that late-night finishes were unhealthy for players after his five-set victory over Lorenzo Musetti ended at 3:07 am local time. The Round of 16 clash between Zheng and Vekic in New York on Sunday (September 1) became the record late finish in women’s singles, beating the old record of 2:13 am from 2021 when Maria Sakkari defeated Bianca Andreescu 6(2)-7, 7-6(6), 6-3 in a fourth-round match.
Murray, who has been vocal about late-night finishes at major events, took to social media to call out major tennis bodies and stakeholders about the recurrent issue.
The tennis scheduling situation is a total mess. It looks so amateurish having matches going on at 2, 3, 4am. Sort it out. Andy Murray said on X
The tennis scheduling situation is a total mess. It looks so amateurish having matches going on at 2,3 4am Sort it out @usopen @AustralianOpen @Wimbledon @rolandgarros @atptour @WTA @ITFTennis
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) September 2, 2024
Zheng went on to claim the tightly contested 7-6(2), 4-6, 6-2 victory over Vekic to become only the second Chinese woman to reach two US Open quarterfinals since Li Na in 2009 and 2013.
Qinwen Zheng thanks fans for staying late to support her at US Open
Qinwen Zheng has less than 48 hours to prepare for her quarterfinal match against two-time Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka. The Chinese lost to Sabalenka in straight sets at the Australian Open in the final in January. They will lock horns on Tuesday (September 3), with a place in the semifinals of the US Open on the line.
Sabalenka made easy work of Elise Mertens, beating the Belgium star 6-4, 6-2. Zheng, meanwhile, had to battle it out with the in-form Vekic and eventually won 7-6(2), 4-6, 6-2. Despite the late-night finish, Zheng was grateful for the fans who stayed to support her.
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. Thanks to the fans that aren’t sleeping tonight, supporting me here. Qinwen Zheng said (via BBC)
Zheng took the tennis world by surprise after winning the women’s singles gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Despite exiting the Cincinnati Open in the Round of 16, she will fancy her chances of winning her maiden Grand Slam at the US Open.
