US Open 2024 live updates: Day 7 latest with Zheng winning latest women's match in tournament history (2024)

• Coco Gauff (3) lost in three sets 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 to fellow American Emma Navarro (13)
• Taylor Fritz (12) beat Casper Ruud (8) in four sets 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.
• Frances Tiafoe (20) defeats Alexei Popyrin (28) in four sets 6-4, 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-3 on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
• Brandon Nakashima loses to Alexander Zverev (4) on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
• Aryna Sabalenka (2) eases past Elise Mertens (33) 6-2, 6-4.

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Qinwen Zheng, after winning in three sets in the latest finishing women's match at the U.S. Open, told James Blake during the on-court interview that she enjoys playing under the lights in the night session.

"It’s always nice for me to play at the night session," Zheng said. "I’m used to it. When I played in Palermo all the time I played really late. It’s my first time playing here in New York til 2 in the morning. That’s unbelievable."

Zheng praised her opponent, Donna Vekic, for an incredible match. The two met at Roland Garros a few weeks ago for the Olympic gold medal match.

"She’s really tough to play… on a hard court, she put a lot of pressure on me," Zheng said. "At Roland Garros I was in control. Today she hit really aggressive. It was tough for me to play against her."

Qinwen Zheng wins in three sets 7-6 (2), 4-6, 6-2 over Donna Vekic to advance to the U.S. Open quarterfinal.

It is the latest finishing women's match in U.S. Open history (2:16 a.m. ET).

What a match.

Next up: Aryna Sabalenka in a rematch of the Australian Open final.

Qinwen Zheng breaks at love to go up 5-2 against Donna Vekic.

It's clear that Vekic is hampered physically at this point in the match.

But it's not stopping Vekic from battling.

Zheng, however, is connecting on her shots. Her energy level is high.

That backhand return to secure the break was massive.

It's past 2 a.m. at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Qinwen Zheng and Donna Vekic continue to have long rallies and hit big, aggressive shots.

Fans who are still at Ashe are cheering loud.

This is truly U.S. Open after dark.

What a start for Qinwen Zheng to the third set.

She breaks Donna Vekic right out of the gate to go up 1-0.

Both players are crushing the ball past 1:30 a.m.

Now it's time for Zheng to serve much better than she did in the second set, where she had a 55 percent first serve.

It's 1:30 a.m. ET and Qiwnen Zheng and Donna Vekic are headed to a third set.

Vekic captures the second set 6-4 after 62 minutes.

It remains a very close match as Vekic leads the total points 80 to 76. Zheng is a +6 and Vekic is +5 for the match.

High-quality tennis from both players.

Going to be a fun third set.

After losing the first set tiebreak, Donna Vekic got off to a strong start in the second with a break to go up 2-0.

But in the subsequent game, Qinwen Zheng responded with a break to go back on serve.

Thirteen straight games no breaks of serve. Now two the last two games.

2-1 Vekic in the second set.

A thrilling first set concludes with Qinwen Zheng, the Olympic gold medalist, winning 7-6 (2) over Donna Vekic.

Zheng seized control in the tiebreaker with her power, putting Vekic on her back foot. Vekic's errors began to increase, guiding Zheng to the first set.

It was a high-quality set of tennis from both players. Here are some stats:

Zheng: 60 percent first serve, 88 percent first serve points won, 15 winners, eight unforced errors

Vekic: 63 percent first serve, 77 percent first serve points won, 14 winners, 10 unforced errors

Qinwen Zheng and Donna Vekic are headed to a first-set tiebreak.

As it should be.

It's been a terrific set thus far with both players competing at a very high level.

Serving 2-3, Donna Vekic went up 40-15.

But Qinwen Zheng came back, thanks to her big, deep shots. She had two break point chances to have a firm grasp on the set.

Vekic served her way out of trouble, staving off the break chances and getting the service hold.

3-3 opening set.

A high level from both players to start this match.

Qinwen Zheng and Donna Vekic met for Olympic gold a few weeks ago at Roland Garros. Zheng defeated Vekic in straight sets to capture the gold medal.

Now under the lights at Ashe, Zheng and Vekic are meeting again in the round of 16 at the U.S. Open.

Vekic is a better hard court player than she is on the clay, particularly with her inside out forehand. Zheng reached the Australian Open final this year.

This will be an interesting match.

NEW YORK — Two days ago Frances Tiafoe was heading into a 50-50 third-round match against Ben Shelton, knowing that even if he won, he’d likely be a massive underdog in his next assignment. Defending champion Novak Djokovic was lying in wait.

Sunday night, Tiafoe slung a forehand onto the sideline to reach the U.S. Open quarterfinals, an open draw ahead of him and 24,000 people around him under the lights.

From underdog to one of the last men standing, in barely more than 48 hours.

On another electrifying night on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Tiafoe beat Djokovic’s conqueror, Alexei Popyrin, 6-4, 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-3, in just over three hours. He faces Grigor Dimitrov in the last eight, with the wind at his back and belief coursing through him.

Read more about Tiafoe's win here.

After his fourth-round win, Chris Eubanks asked Frances Tiafoe what about Arthur Ashe Stadium makes him play his best tennis.

"I've always dreamt of playing on this court," Tiafoe said. "I used to hit against a wall wanting to play on this court."

Tiafoe said he grew up watching the Williams sisters and Roger Federer win a lot of titles at the U.S. Open and wanted to be like them. He's called Ashe Stadium "my house."

Now, Tiafoe will get another chance to play on tennis' biggest stage Tuesday against Grigor Dimitrov in the quarterfinals.

Frances Tiafoe defeats Alexei Popyrin in four sets 6-4, 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-3.

Tiafoe reaches the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open for the third consecutive year. He is the first American man since Andy Roddick to accomplish that feat.

This match turned in the second set, when Tiafoe saved three set points down 4-5 to break Popyrin en route to winning the tiebreak.

Incredible resilience and discipline from Tiafoe, who will now face Grigor Dimitrov in the quarterfinals.

Frances Tiafoe gets the first break of the fourth set.

Alexei Popyrin started to make mistakes with unforced errors and double faults. Tiafoe took advantage.

Tiafoe leads 4-2 in the fourth set, two games from the match.

Alexei Popyrin takes the third set 6-2 against Frances Tiafoe.

An impressive set from Popyrin, after the tough way the second set ended for him, where he couldn't convert on three set point opportunities.

Popyrin served efficiently in the third set (64 percent), only dropping one point on his first serve. He had 12 winners to just two unforced errors.

Tiafoe still leads two sets to one but Popyrin is making things interesting.

With Frances Tiafoe serving 2-4, Alexei Popyrin had two break point opportunities.

On the first break point chance, Popyrin took advantage of the Tiafoe second serve, blasting a backhand return winner up the line.

Popyrin leads 5-2 and will serve for the third set.

Alexei Popyrin could've taken a commanding double break lead in the third set.

The Aussie had three break point chances up 3-1.

But Frances Tiafoe had other ideas. He won five points in a row to get the hold, staving off the three break point opportunities for Popyrin.

Popyrin might be still up a break 3-2 but now he has more to think about on the changeover.

Down two sets to love, it's Alexei Popyrin who gets the early break in the third set.

Frances Tiafoe with a loose serving game, spraying his groundstrokes long. Popyrin also had a blazing crosscourt backhand winner to give him a break point.

As Tiafoe's shot sailed long on triple break point, Popyrin jumped to his chair.

The Australian is still fighting, despite the two-set deficit.