Sabalenka to Face Zheng in French Open Quarterfinals

Aryna Sabalenka, the top-ranked player globally, secured her place in the French Open quarterfinals by defeating Amanda Anisimova, the 16th seed, with a score of 7-5, 6-3 on Sunday at Court Suzanne Lenglen.

The Belarusian athlete, a three-time Grand Slam victor, now leads the season with 33 straight-set victories, surpassing all other players in total tour-level wins.

Reflecting on her recent performance, Sabalenka spoke highly of Anisimova’s tenacity and recalled their history of tight matches. She highlighted the crucial role of maintaining concentration and strategically adapting her gameplay to achieve victory.

“She’s a formidable player, very tough,” Sabalenka commented. “We’ve had some intense battles before. I really focused on applying as much pressure as possible and varying my rhythm. I’m very pleased with the outcome. She really pushed me.”

Sabalenka’s next opponent in the quarterfinals will be China’s seventh seed, Zheng Qinwen.

Zheng recently scored her first victory against Sabalenka in seven encounters during the Italian Open quarterfinals, a significant match leading up to Roland Garros.

Despite holding a 5-3 advantage over Anisimova, Sabalenka has won their most recent two matches. Anisimova presented a significant challenge in the initial set, even breaking Sabalenka’s serve as she aimed to close out the set.

However, Anisimova’s failure to convert two break points in the eleventh game proved decisive, allowing the top seed to seize control and secure the first set.

In the second set, Sabalenka quickly established a 3-0 lead and effectively maintained her advantage to conclude the match in straight sets.