Sabalenka Secures Semifinal Berth in Dominant Miami Open Performance
World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus overcame a spirited challenge from China's Zheng Qinwen, defeating the ninth seed 6-2, 7-5 in the Miami Open quarterfinals on Sunday. The victory marks Sabalenka's first semifinal appearance at the prestigious WTA 1000 event.
Match Highlights: Momentum Swings and Missed Opportunities
Zheng, 22, showed early promise by saving break points in her opening service game, even threatening to take a 2-0 lead. However, the three-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka capitalized on critical unforced errors, winning five consecutive games to claim the first set.
The second set saw Zheng elevate her aggression, trading breaks with Sabalenka through the first ten games. At 5-5, the Belarusian shifted gears decisively, securing back-to-back games to close out the match in 90 minutes.
Historical Context: Zheng's Quest for Breakthrough Continues
The result extends Sabalenka's perfect record against Zheng to 6-0. It also marks Zheng's sixth consecutive loss in WTA 1000 quarterfinals played outside China, underscoring the challenges young players face in translating domestic success to global stages.
Sabalenka advances to face Italy's Jasmine Paolini, who seeks her first career win against a top-10 opponent. Tennis analysts suggest Zheng's powerful baseline game remains a work in progress against elite defenders, though her 2024 season already includes a career-high ranking of No. 7.
