US Open: Aryna Sabalenka reaches the semi-finals with victory over Zheng Qinwen
Ryna Sabalenka lived up to her reputation as US Open favorite with a resounding 6-1, 6-4 victory over Zheng Qinwen in the opening game on Wednesday.
Sabalenka will succeed Iga Swiatek as world No. 1 when the rankings are revised, regardless of how she performs in the semifinals and beyond.
And she delivered a performance worthy of that status as her 20-year-old opponent struggled with the enormity of the event, only finding her rhythm in the second set, when the match had already gotten away from her.
Zheng is considered one of the future stars of the women’s game, but was let down in the opening set with a first serve rate of just 25, in which she managed to win just one game in the closing stages.
However, she denied her Belarusian opponent the chance to escape with victory in the second set as she held her first three games before being broken and unable to claw her way back into the game.
Sabalenka’s power play proved to be Zheng’s undoing, although the Australian Open champion gave the impression that there was much more in reserve if she needed to raise her level further for the rest of the tournament.
She will now face the winner of the opening game between Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova and number 17 Madison Keys.
After her quarterfinal win, Sabalenka said: “I definitely played great tennis today. I’m super happy with the performance tonight and I just gave myself the chance to do better in the semi-final. I will do everything I can to stay until the end.”
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/tennis/aryna-sabalenka-zheng-qinwen-us-open-b1105364.html US Open: Aryna Sabalenka reaches the semi-finals with victory over Zheng Qinwen
