Aryna Sabalenka Advances to US Open Semis with Dominant Win Over Zheng Qinwen
Aryna Sabalenka, the second-seeded player from Belarus, showcased her dominance on the court as she secured a spot in the US Open semi-finals while also preparing to claim the world number one ranking from Iga Swiatek. Sabalenka’s commanding performance saw her defeat Chinese newcomer Zheng Qinwen in straight sets, with a score of 6-1, 6-4, in just an hour and 13 minutes.
Zheng, a 20-year-old playing in her maiden grand slam quarter-final, struggled to find her footing early in the match, winning only four of the first 24 points as Sabalenka quickly raced to a 5-0 lead. Although Zheng managed to hold her serve in the sixth game, Sabalenka swiftly clinched the first set in a mere 27 minutes.
In the second set, Zheng made a valiant effort to regain some ground, but Sabalenka’s break in the seventh game ultimately sealed her victory. Sabalenka’s remarkable achievement of reaching the semi-finals in all four grand slam tournaments in a single year hasn’t been seen since Serena Williams accomplished the feat in 2016.
Throughout her journey at Flushing Meadows, the 25-year-old Sabalenka has been formidable, having surrendered just 21 games across the 10 sets she’s played during five rounds in New York. After her impressive win, Sabalenka expressed her satisfaction with her performance, stating, “I definitely played great tennis. I’m super happy with the performance tonight and to give myself a chance to do better in the semis. I’m going to do everything I can to stay until the end.”
Re-reported from the article originally published in The myKhel.
