US Open: Aryna Sabalenka eases past Zheng Qinwen to reach semifinals

Seth Wenig/AP

Aryna Sabalenka is one of the favorites to win this year’s US Open.



CNN

Aryna Sabalenka shows why he is one of the favorites to win this year US Open after producing a dominant performance against Zheng Qinwen on Wednesday to reach the semifinals.

The world No. 2 won against the Chinese 20-year-old, winning 6-1 6-4 inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Zheng was no match for Sabalenka’s big serve and powerful shots, as the Belarusian comfortably advanced to the final four of the US Open.

After several early high-profile exits, Sabalenka is the top seed left in the draw and looks like the player to beat.

“I think I definitely played good tennis today,” Sabalenka said in her on-court interview. “Super happy with the performance. I have another opportunity to do better in the semis.”

She will face Wimbledon champion Markéta Vondroušová or American Madison Keys for a place in the final.

Seth Wenig/AP

Sabalenka returned a shot to Zheng at the US Open en route to victory.

Iga Świątek’s early exit from the US Open means that, regardless, Sabalenka will be world No. 1 for the first time on Monday.

His rise to the top of the world rankings comes after a remarkable year in which he won three titles, including his first grand slam at the Australian Open.

He continued his dominant form against Zheng in the quarterfinals, defeating his opponent in the opening set that lasted just 27 minutes.

The break between sets allowed Zheng to regroup and he began to grow into the game. The youngster more than held her own against Sabalenka as the pair exchanged service games at the start of the second set.

That was until the seventh game of the set when Sabalenka broke Zheng’s tenacity to get her nose ahead with a crucial break of serve.

Try as he might, Zheng was unable to fight back and the Belarusian served out the match with ease.

This is Sabalenka’s third consecutive US Open semifinal as she seeks a second grand slam title in 2023.

Sabalenka – who is in her fifth consecutive grand slam semifinal – has now won the first seven major quarterfinals of her career, second on the all-time list behind Chris Evert who, amazingly, won his first 48.