Aryna Sabalenka defeats Qinwen Zheng to reach US Open semifinals

Aryna Sabalenka, ranked No. 2, showcased an impressive performance on Tuesday night as she dominated her opponent, Qinwen Zheng, in the US Open quarterfinals, winning with a score of 6-1, 6-2. This victory marks her second consecutive year reaching the semifinals of this prestigious tournament.

This match was notable as it featured the first encounter of two top-ten ranked players in the women’s division at this US Open. It was also a rematch of their previous clash in the Australian Open final in January, where Sabalenka emerged victorious.

With this win, Sabalenka has improved her record in Grand Slam quarterfinals to 9-1. This impressive win percentage ranks her second among women since the beginning of the Open era in 1968, with a minimum of ten matches played.

Her performance in recent years has been remarkable, as she has now reached nine major semifinals since the start of 2021, leading all female players during this timeframe. The ease of her victory over Zheng was evident, as the three games won by Zheng during the match marked her lowest total in any Grand Slam match.

Sabalenka, who was the runner-up at last year’s US Open and a champion at this year’s Australian Open, has her eyes set on making history. If she wins the title, she would become the fifth woman ever to achieve both the Australian Open and US Open titles in the same year since the Australian Open transitioned to hard courts in 1988.

Joining an elite group of legends, she would follow in the footsteps of Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Martina Hingis, and Angelique Kerber, all of whom have accomplished this remarkable feat.

As the tournament progresses, anticipation builds around Sabalenka’s next match as she aims to continue her strong form and capture the coveted title.

This strong performance not only cements her position as one of the leading players in women’s tennis but also adds to the excitement surrounding the US Open.