NEW YORK -- In some respects, it had the feel of two pals out for a late-night hitting session under the lights.

There was much more at stake, of course, when Younes El Aynaoui and Wayne Ferreira played until 2:14 a.m. Tuesday: money, ranking points and a berth in the U.S. Open quarterfinals against defending champion Lleyton Hewitt.

El Aynaoui, a Moroccan seeded 20th, won 3-6, 7-5, 7-5, 7-6 (3), with about 300 fans sticking around until the final point. The finishing time was just 12 minutes short of the U.S. Open's record for latest end to a match.

On Sept. 4, 1993, Mats Wilander's victory over Mikael Pernfors ended at 2:26 a.m.

The late-night show starring El Aynaoui and Ferreira was the conclusion to a long session. Play didn't begin Monday until after 6 p.m. because of a rain delay of more than seven hours.

"It's great all these people stayed,'' El Aynaoui said. "I thought we were going to play in front of no people.''

They were on Court 4, a short walk from Arthur Ashe Stadium. The venues couldn't be more different, though.

El Aynaoui and Ferreira, a South African, were playing at a court with none of the trappings of big-time tennis, for players or fans. No clocks (which might have been a good thing, considering the circumstances). No serve-speed displays. No replay screens.

Here's how intimate it was: Late in the final set, El Aynaoui waved to a spectator in the bleachers at the opposite end of the court, trying to indicate he wanted the man to sit down. And the man complied.

Even Andy Roddick sneaked a peek, peering around the corner during the last set.

The players could hear every word of encouragement and every bit of heckling. Ferreira stopped at one point to look in the direction of someone yelling at him.

Tournament referee Brian Earley, who spent Monday trying to figure out how to get the rain-delayed tournament back on schedule, stifled a yawn while he took in the action from a second-row seat near center court.

He wasn't the only one fighting sleep. At 1:30 a.m., when there was a change of ball boys, one slapped his face to stay awake as he walked off.

"I just hope my legs will feel all right'' against Hewitt on Wednesday, said El Aynaoui, who shielded himself from the cold during changeovers by draping towels over each leg, his shoulders and chest.

Both players were animated. El Aynaoui would pound his fist on his chest or motion for the crowd to cheer. He gave Ferreira a thumbs-up after the South African reached to hit a running forehand passing shot.

Ferreira smacked his racket against a net post after being broken to lose the third set, and threw his racket to the net after missing a shot in the last tiebreaker.

El Aynaoui had vocal support, with one group of fans wearing Moroccan flags as capes and chanting, "Ole, ole, ole, ole, Younes, Younes!''

"These guys are really competing, and the crowd is making it so exciting,'' said James French, 18, a high school tennis player from Mount Vernon, who watched the match while standing on bleachers from the adjacent court.

When Ferreira's forehand fell out to end the match, El Aynaoui dropped his racket and applauded toward his personal rooting section.

Ferreira picked up a ball and hit it out over the stands -- and into the night.