Aryna Sabalenka Sends ‘Revenge’ Warning to Qinwen Zheng Ahead of Roland Garros Quarterfinal Clash

Aryna Sabalenka has never progressed to the final at the French Open, while Qinwen Zheng has reached the quarterfinals for the first time.

Aryna Sabalenka Sends ‘Revenge’ Warning to Qinwen Zheng Ahead of Roland Garros Quarterfinal Clash

Aryna Sabalenka, Qinwen Zheng (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

Aryna Sabalenka had to fight hard on Sunday to win the first set against America’s Amanda Anisimova in the French Open fourth round. But the second set was an easy affair and Sabalenka quickly finished the match in her favor with a 7-5, 6-3 scoreline in an hour and 32 minutes.

It was Sabalenka’s third win over Anisimova in their eight meetings. Sabalenka also now holds a 2-3 win-loss record over the World No.16 on clay. The 27-year-old also took revenge for her defeat in the 2019 Roland Garros second round.

Next, she will face Qinwen Zheng. The Chinese ace, on her part, toiled hard to beat Liudmila Samsonova 7-6(5), 1-6, 6-3 in two hours and 47 minutes to schedule a blockbuster clash with the Belarusian.

The quarterfinal clash will be their eighth meeting on the tour. Sabalenka, who defeated Zheng in last year’s Australian Open final, held a perfect 6-0 head-to-head record over the 22-year-old before this year’s Italian Open. Zheng had knocked Sabalenka out of the last WTA 1000 on the European clay before losing a thrilling semifinal against eventual runner-up Coco Gauff. Sabalenka is now eyeing the revenge.

It’s always tough matches against her. She’s a great player. Of course, I expect a great battle. I’m super excited to face her in the quarterfinals. I want to get my revenge. Yeah, I want to get this win after Rome. I’m happy to face her in the quarterfinals.

The quarterfinal clash will be their third match this year. Before Rome, they met in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open, which Sabalenka won in straight sets before reaching the final and beating Jessica Pegula to win her first Sunshine Double singles title.

Zheng has now reached her first French Open quarterfinal. She, however, is on a 10-match winning streak at Roland Garros because last year, she beat Donna Vekic to win the gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Zheng has become just the second Chinese in the Open Era to progress to the last eight of the French Open after Li Na, who lifted the title in 2011.

Aryna Sabalenka explains why she lost to Qinwen Zheng in Rome

Aryna Sabalenka has been playing non-stop tennis. The French Open is her fourth tournament on clay, following the Stuttgart Open, Madrid Open, and the Italian Open.

Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

Sabalenka, so far, is the most successful player on the WTA tour this season. She made it to six finals, winning three. Two of those finals she played in Stuttgart and Madrid, losing the former to Jelena Ostapenko and winning the latter by beating Coco Gauff. Sabalenka, at the press conference after her Roland Garros fourth-round win, admitted that she had half a mind to skip the Rome tournament.

I have to say I was pretty exhausted in Rome. Honestly, I was playing that tournament constantly thinking that I shouldn’t be playing. I needed a little rest before Roland Garros. I think maybe because the courts are a little bit slower she has a bit more time to prepare her shots.

The three-time Grand Slam singles champion has now progressed to the quarterfinals of the clay-court Major for the third consecutive time. She has also won her last 10 fourth-round matches in Grand Slam tournaments, becoming the first woman since Serena Williams to do so. Williams had won 17 consecutive fourth-round matches from the 2014 US Open to the 2021 Australian Open.

The winner of the Sabalenka versus Zheng will meet the winner of the quarterfinal clash between three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek and Elina Svitolina. Swiatek is beaming with confidence after escaping Elena Rybakina in a hard-fought fourth-round match. The winner of this semifinal could meet Coco Gauff or Mirra Andreeva in the final.

Also read: (Video) Aryna Sabalenka Gatecrashes Novak Djokovic’s Interview on TNT Sports at Roland Garros