Aryna Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion and soon-to-be world number one, is one step closer to claiming her second Grand Slam title of the year after a commanding performance in the US Open quarter-finals. Sabalenka secured her spot in the semi-finals with a straight-set victory over China’s rising star Zheng Qinwen.
The Belarusian second seed showcased her prowess on the court with a convincing 6-1, 6-4 victory that lasted just over an hour. Sabalenka’s dominant display left her opponent struggling to find answers to her powerful game.
Sabalenka attributed her success to her dominant serve, which proved to be a formidable weapon throughout the match. With Iga Swiatek, the current world number one, exiting the US Open earlier in the tournament, Sabalenka has her sights set on claiming the top spot in women’s tennis after the event.
Having reached the semi-finals in her last five Grand Slam appearances, Sabalenka’s experience in high-pressure matches was evident. She emphasized the value of learning from previous losses, stating, “We’re not losing; we’re learning.” This growth mindset has undoubtedly contributed to her continuous improvement as a player.
Zheng, a promising talent from China, had previously caused an upset by reaching her first Grand Slam quarter-final. However, facing Sabalenka’s powerful serve proved to be a daunting challenge. The 20-year-old 23rd seed was unable to create a single break point opportunity throughout the match.
Sabalenka’s dominance was reflected in her serve statistics, winning 23 of 26 points on her first serve and 13 of 19 on her second. Zheng acknowledged the difficulty of handling Sabalenka’s powerful serve, emphasizing that it’s essential to understand how to navigate her service game to have a chance of defeating her.
With her eyes firmly set on the US Open title, Aryna Sabalenka’s impressive run in the tournament continues, leaving tennis fans eager to see if she can clinch another Grand Slam victory.
