US Open 2023 results: Aryna Sabalenka beats Zheng Qinwen to reach semi-finals

Second seed Aryna Sabalenka reached the US Open semi-finals for the third successive yr with a dominant win over Chinese 23rd seed Zheng Qinwen.

Sabalenka, who discovered earlier this week she would be the new world primary after the match, received 6-1 6-4.

The 25-year-old from Belarus has by no means gone on to play within the New York closing.

Sabalenka will now face 2017 runner-up Madison Keys after the American beat Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 6-1 6-4.

“I think I definitely played great tennis today and I’m super happy to win, she has played great tennis at the US Open,” mentioned Sabalenka, whose earlier semi-final defeats got here towards Canada’s Leylah Fernandez and Poland’s Iga Swiatek.

“Now I’ve the chance to do higher within the semis.

“I’ve discovered [since the previous semi-finals] that I’m prepared to play these rallies and keep within the recreation and the purpose now. “I also focused on my physical abilities and am getting less tired on court. I am ready to play wherever I need to play now.”

Sabalenka was thought-about the pre-tournament favorite alongside defending champion Swiatek on the closing Grand Slam occasion of the season, by advantage of her very good kind all year long and former pedigree on the US Open arduous courts.

Top seed Swiatek being ousted within the final 16 by Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko supplied additional perception for these backing Sabalenka that she will go on to win her second main title.

The Australian Open champion has reached the semi-finals of all 4 majors in 2023, changing into the primary girl since Serena Williams in 2016 to obtain the feat.

While American sixth seed Coco Gauff is trying formidable within the different aspect of the draw, the style of Sabalenka’s victory over Zheng supplied extra proof of her credentials.

Sabalenka had not dropped a set coming into the quarter-final, dropping simply 16 video games in her earlier 4 matches.

The approach she dominated 20-year-old Zheng from the beginning illustrated her confidence, profitable the primary seven factors to lay the platform for an early break.

Sabalenka allowed her opponent to win simply 4 factors as she raced 5-0 forward, occurring to wrap up the primary set in 27 minutes.

Zheng is likely one of the hottest prospects on the WTA Tour and finally settled in what was her first main quarter-final.

The second set was a a lot nearer contest, with a single break for Sabalenka within the sixth recreation proving decisive.

After Zheng saved a match level on her personal serve, Sabalenka took a second within the following recreation when Zheng hit a backhand into the online, securing victory in only one hour and 13 minutes.

Sabalenka will face 17th seed Keys, who made comparatively mild work of Czech Vondrousova on a moist night in New York.

The American has constantly impressed over the previous few months, making back-to-back Grand Slam quarter-finals earlier than going a step additional at her residence main.

Keys began the stronger of the 2, breaking ninth seed Vondrousova on the first alternative and racing to a 5-0 lead earlier than serving out the set.

The second set was a better affair however Keys performed higher within the large moments, saving all 9 of the break factors she confronted and dominating along with her enormous forehand.

She will face a tricky process towards Sabalenka, who beat her at Wimbledon, however Keys mentioned she would “buckle up and get as many balls back as I can”.

“Just having played her at Wimbledon, she’s obviously been amazing this year,” Keys added.

“It’s almost a completely different match and it’s going to be a lot of hard hitting and not a lot of long points.”