World No 2 Aryna Sabalenka served notice that she has her eyes firmly fixed on lifting the US Open trophy on Saturday, after her straight sets quarter-final demolition of Zheng Qinwen, the Olympic champion, in Tuesday’s night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
I saw him there [Roger Federer], saw him on the big screen. I was like, OK, I have to play my best tennis so he enjoys it. I have to show my skills, you know, slice skills, come to the net, and all that stuff. Aryna Sabalenka
The two had met in the Australian Open final, where Sabalenka comprehensively beat the 21-year-old, 6-1 6-4, and, on this occasion, she made equally quick work of Zheng, who was seeded 7 here, the Belarusian taking down the Chinese No 1 in 73 minutes, 6-1 6-2.
It was a one-sided affair, with Sabalenka coming in as the fresher player, having dropped just one set thus far, while Zheng went the distance in 3 of her lead-in matches.
The 26-year-old No 2 seed arrived on a 9-match winning streak, having captured the title in Cincinnati immediately prior to the US Open, and is in top form.
Following the Paris Olympics, which Sabalenka skipped, Zheng flew to China to meet with Xi Jinping and celebrate her Gold medal win ahead of the US Open, and she must have been fatigued, as she was broken in her opening service game after missing virtually every first serve.
Despite the Chinese racking up 49 aces at this tournament, she would make only 31% of serves through the first set, and her service woes quickly infected the rest of her game, as she found herself late on Sabalenka’s heavy ground strokes, and began to miss routine balls, even when she had time to set up for them.
Watched by 5-time US Open champion Roger Federer in the stands, Sabalenka was at her brutal best,
“I saw him there, saw him on the big screen,” Sabalenka said. ”I was like, OK, I have to play my best tennis so he enjoys it. I have to show my skills, you know, slice skills, come to the net, and all that stuff.”
Roger Federer was in the stands watching Aryna Sabalenka win against Zheng Qinwen on Day 8 of the US Open
© Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Sabalenka quickly found her footing, and, aided by Zheng serving so poorly, she took the first set in 35 minutes.
In the second set, Zheng appeared to lash out at her coaching team as she pointed her racket in their direction, but even venting didn’t help help cause.
Zheng may well have been tired from a 2.00am finish in her last match, another 3-setter against Donna Vekic, the Silver medallist from Croatia, and her busy Olympic summer looked to have finally have caught up with her.
Sabalenka dominated, and Zheng unravelled, and the ease with which the Belarusian advanced was breath-taking.
She faced a break point in her second service game of the match, but after she saved that and held, Sabalenka never faced another in the Top 10 showdown.
Zheng actually had a slightly better winning percentage behind her first serve, 74% to 73%, but when it came to second-service points, Sabalenka was way on top, winning 53% of those points to the 7th seed’s 33%.
Moreover, the Sabalenka power game worked to greater effect on return, and she won almost half of the points returning Zheng’s serve, 21 of 43, leading to a 4-for-8 break point conversion rate.
Sabalenka has a win-loss record of 48-11, which is 81.4%, at hard-court Grand Slam events, while she currently holds the best winning percentage at majors on the surface among active players.
Zheng Qinwen’s usual serving prowess deserted her on Tuesday night, and she lost to Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets in their quarter-final
© Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Sabalenka has had an up-and-down relationship with the Flushing Meadows crowds over the years, calling them out for a lack of support during last year’s final against home favourite Coco Gauff before shedding tears at the trophy ceremony.
After her pedestrian win over Zheng, she was asked in an on-court interview how she might get the home fans on her side against home favourite Emma Navarro at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“Drinks on me tonight?” said Sabalenka. “Drink on me, and, please, give me some support in the next match…” she added, as the crowd clapped and cheered.
Sabalenka has reached at least the quarter-final stage of the last 8 Grand Slams she has played in, and is in the Last 4 of the US Open for the 4th year in a row.
“Before, when you just coming up on tour, like, for you making the second week, it’s something crazy, and you see stuff, like, crazy, and you put so much pressure on you about the Grand Slams, about the results and everything,” she said. “Nowadays, I’m just trying to take things easier. I’m just trying to take it easy.
“If you get to the Top 5 level, anyway, everyone will take you as a favourite, but as I always say, it’s not about being favourite, it’s about how hard you’re ready to fight for it. It’s going to be tough moments in the matches when you don’t feel your best, and you have to go through it.
“But I’m really glad they take me as a favourite, and I’ll do my very best to hold this beautiful trophy.”
Sabalenka is now a win away from her second straight US Open final, having finished runner-up to Gauff at last year’s edition, but she will have to navigate past first-time major semi-finalist Navarro, the 13th seed, on Thursday.
Navarro, the tournament’s break-out new American star, beat Spain’s Paula Badosa earlier in the day, 6-2 7-5.
“[Navarro is] doing really well,” Sabalenka said. “Beautiful to see she’s working hard, playing really great tennis, smart tennis, moving well, hitting pretty heavy shots.
“Last two matches we played was really tough, tough matches, physically and mentally. Even though I won the last one in two sets, it wasn’t that easy match, and it was very intense match. I’m really looking for another great battle against her.”
Aryna Sabalenka (L) dominated Zheng Qinwen throughout the one-sided contest on Arthur Ashe Stadium
© Jamie Squire/Getty Images
