Top seed Iga Swiatek continued her impressive run at the US Open, defeating Liudmila Samsonova 6-4, 6-1 to advance to the quarter-finals. Swiatek, the only former champion remaining in the women’s draw, has not dropped a set in the tournament and displayed her veteran prowess in her 100th major match. Samsonova, aiming for her first major quarter-final, struggled to challenge Swiatek, failing to create any break points and accumulating numerous unforced errors.
Swiatek will next face American Jessica Pegula.
US Open Faces Criticism Over Late Finishes
The US Open has come under fire for its scheduling after a women’s match ended at a record 2:15 a.m. Former world number one Andy Murray criticized the tournament organizers, calling the scheduling “a total mess” following Zheng Qinwen’s win over Donna Vekic. The match, which concluded with Zheng’s 7-6 (7/2), 4-6, 6-2 victory, set a new record for the latest finish in a women’s singles match at Flushing Meadows.
Murray expressed frustration on social media, highlighting the issue of matches extending into the early morning hours. The Zheng-Vekic match was preceded by a four-set men’s match that also started late, exacerbating the delay.
Zheng, 21, remained unfazed by the late finish, acknowledging the support of the fans who stayed until the end.
This year’s US Open has seen several late finishes despite new policies aimed at addressing the issue. Tournament director Stacey Allaster noted that the referee now has the discretion to move matches to different courts if they are scheduled to start after 11:15 p.m. However, logistical challenges often complicate this process.
The ongoing problem with late finishes has sparked broader concerns within the tennis community. Both ATP and WTA have introduced new guidelines to limit evening matches, though Grand Slam tournaments, including the US Open, have yet to fully implement these changes.
