World Number One Sabalenka Qualifies For French Open Semi-Finals
World number one Aryna Sabalenka defeated Zheng Qinwen 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 to book a place in the French Open semi-finals on Tuesday.
She extended her dominance over Zheng with another impressive performance to make it 8-4 against the four-time winner of the tournament.
Sabalenka recovered from a poor start after making 18 unforced errors before eventually fighting back to make it 4-4.
The top seed showed her quality to scale through to boost her chances of winning her first title at Roland Garros.
However, she criticised the scheduling of her fixture while calling for equal treatment with the men’s category.
Sabalenka said, “It was a big match, and probably it would have made more sense to put us a little bit later, just so more people could watch it.
“At the same time, I’m happy to finish earlier, and then I have a half day off, and I can just enjoy the city and do all the things that I have to do. (But) Talking about that, I definitely think that it would make more sense to move our match a little bit later.
“That was a true battle. Honestly, I have no idea how I was able to break her back and get back in the first set.
“I was just trying to fight, and I was just trying to put as many balls as I could back in. I didn’t start well, but I’m really glad I found my rhythm and won this match. It was a tough one.
“I have to say that in the last tournament, I was pretty exhausted. Honestly, I was actually glad that I lost that match because I needed a little break before Roland Garros.
“I was just more fresh today and I was ready to battle, to fight and to leave everything that I have on the court to get this win.”
Sabalenka will take on Iga Swiatek in the last four of the tournament.
Swiatek recorded her 26th victory in a row to beat Elina Svitolina 6-1, 7-5 on Tuesday to continue her rich vein of form on clay.
Swiatek is targeting a fourth French Open title and is ready for a tough clash against Sabalenka.
She said, “I should have had better intensity at the beginning of the second set. When I saw my intensity go low, I got it high again. I am happy I did it at the end of the set.
“Against Aryna, it is always a challenge. She has a game for every surface. I have to do the work, be brave with my shots and go for it. She is having a great season.”
“I will not lie; it will be a tough match, but I am happy for the challenge.”
Swiatek will be hoping to become the first woman in the professional era since 1968 to win four consecutive titles in Paris.
World Number One Sabalenka Qualifies For French Open Semi-Finals is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
