“I couldn’t sleep after the match: Qinwen Zheng blames US Open 2024 schedule for quarter-final exit

World number seven Qinwen Zheng has blamed poor scheduling for her loss in the quarterfinals of the 2024 US Open. Zheng’s journey at the mega event ended on Tuesday when she lost in the round of eight to world number two Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2.

After the match, the Shiyan-born player, speaking to Chinese media, blamed poor scheduling for her loss: “I couldn’t sleep after finishing the match at 2.30 a.m.,” she said. “I couldn’t practice yesterday because I felt terrible. I couldn’t wake up. Sometimes the schedule is like that. If I had hit a few balls yesterday, maybe it would have helped for today’s match, but it’s OK.”

The loss ended Zheng’s hopes of reaching the US Open semifinals for the first time. The result also ended a fairly successful Grand Slam season for the 21-year-old, which saw her reach her first and only Grand Slam final. She finished second at the Australian Open, where she lost to Sabalenka in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 in the final.

However, Sabalenka will now hope to win her third Grand Slam title and her first US Open title. In the last four she will now face American Emma Navarro, who booked her place in the semi-finals after beating Spaniard Paula Badosa in three sets 6-2, 7-5 in the quarter-finals.

= Data service=”Twitter”>