Sabalenka Advances to French Open Semis After Overcoming Zheng

PARIS: In a compelling match on Tuesday, world number one Aryna Sabalenka demonstrated resilience and skill, overcoming a sluggish start to defeat Paris Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen. Sabalenka’s 7-6(3) 6-3 victory propels her into the French Open semi-finals.

Last month, Zheng had secured her first triumph against Sabalenka in seven encounters during the Rome quarter-finals. At Court Philippe Chatrier, Zheng initially gained an advantage in the opening set.

“It was a real fight, and initially, I wasn’t sure how I would recover and get back into the first set. My start wasn’t ideal, but I’m happy I rediscovered my rhythm and secured the win,” Sabalenka commented, moving closer to clinching her first French Open title.

“We all share the same goal here: to win that beautiful trophy. I appreciate having another chance, another semi-final, to perform even better than before.

“My hope is that by the conclusion of the claycourt season, I can feel a sense of accomplishment.”

Zheng, aiming to emulate Li Na’s 2011 victory at Roland Garros, broke for a 2-1 lead with a powerful forehand. However, Sabalenka shifted gears, leveling the score five games later. Despite reaching set point at 6-5, she was initially denied.

The top-seeded Sabalenka, 27, quickly recovered, dominating the tiebreak as Zheng’s game faltered with errors. The players then exchanged breaks in a highly competitive second set.

A commanding forehand gave Sabalenka a 5-3 lead, and the three-time Grand Slam champion maintained control, securing her spot in the semi-final against either 13th seed Elina Svitolina or four-time champion Iga Swiatek.