Aryna Sabalenka, the No. 2 seed and last year’s US Open runner-up, showcased her dominance on Tuesday night by only surrendering three games to Qinwen Zheng. This victory marked Sabalenka’s fourth consecutive appearance in the semifinals at Flushing Meadows, solidifying her as a force to be reckoned with in the tennis world. The matchup between Sabalenka and No. 7 ranked Zheng was a highly anticipated rematch of the Australian Open final, which Sabalenka emerged victorious from earlier this year. With tennis legend Roger Federer in attendance for the first time since his retirement, Sabalenka put on a spectacular performance, clinching a 6-1, 6-2 win and setting up a semifinals clash with Emma Navarro on Thursday.
In the previous year’s US Open final, Sabalenka faced American Coco Gauff in front of a partisan crowd that fervently supported the eventual champion. This time around, Sabalenka finds herself up against another American in Navarro, prompting ESPN’s Pam Shriver to ask her how she plans to win over the crowd. Sabalenka humorously responded by offering to buy the spectators drinks and pleading for their support in the upcoming match. Despite defeating Navarro in the fourth round at Roland Garros, Sabalenka acknowledged that her opponent is a formidable player and anticipates a tough battle on the court. She commended Navarro’s incredible tennis performances and expressed her eagerness to face her once again.
As one of the most dominant players in majors this year, Sabalenka has won an impressive 33 out of 36 sets. Her remarkable success has positioned her as a contender to become the first woman since Angelique Kerber in 2016 to secure hard-court major titles at both the Australian Open and US Open. With an outstanding record of 9-1 in major quarterfinals, Sabalenka boasts the second-best win percentage among women since the Open era began in 1968. Furthermore, her nine major semifinals appearances since the start of 2021 surpass all other women’s players over the same timeframe.
While Sabalenka’s performance was nothing short of exceptional, her opponent, Qinwen Zheng, encountered difficulties throughout the match. Zheng, the gold medalist at the Paris Olympics last month, won only three games against Sabalenka, marking her lowest tally in a Grand Slam contest. She struggled with her first serve, making only 44% of her attempts, and attributed her performance to feeling tight and fatigued. Zheng revealed that the late finish of her previous match with Donna Vekic, which concluded at 2:15 a.m. – the latest ever for a US Open women’s match, hindered her ability to practice effectively the following day. Despite these challenges, Zheng remained gracious in defeat and acknowledged the unpredictable nature of the tournament schedule.
Aryna Sabalenka’s unwavering dominance and impressive performance at the US Open solidify her status as a top contender for the title. With a blend of power, precision, and determination, Sabalenka continues to leave her mark on the tennis world and remains a force to be reckoned with on the court. As she prepares to face Emma Navarro in the semifinals, Sabalenka’s quest for Grand Slam success serves as a testament to her unwavering talent and tenacity in the game of tennis.
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