Aryna Sabalenka accepts she was trying to impress Roger Federer during her quarterfinal match at 2024 US Open

After defeating Qinwen Zheng in the 2024 US Open quarterfinals, Aryna Sabalenka admitted that she was trying to impress Roger Federer with her game as the Swiss maestro was present at the Arthur Ashe Stadium for the match. Sabalenka said that she was trying her best to make sure Federer enjoyed the match.

Federer made his first appearance at the Arthur Ashe Stadium since retiring in 2022. The 43-year-old was present for the evening session on Tuesday (September 3), which also featured Frances Tiafoe and Grigor Dimitrov‘s quarterfinal clash.

Federer was welcomed with a big round of applause and loud cheers and the five-time US Open champion soaked in all the love from the crowd. Sabalenka, who saw Federer on the big screen, decided to put her best game on display to ensure he had a good time.

Yeah, I saw, I saw him there, saw him on the big screen. I mean, I'm pretty sure he came to watch Tiafoe and Dimitrov, but still, I was like, okay, ‘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 (Laughter). Yeah, that was a nice moment. Nice to see him around.

Aryna Sabalenka said in her on-court interview

Aryna Sabalenka put up a dominant display against Olympic gold medalist Zheng. She beat the Chinese ace 6-2, 6-1 in just 73 minutes to make it to her fourth consecutive US Open semifinal.

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Aryna Sabalenka excited for another battle against home favorite Emma Navarro

Aryna Sabalenka is set to face Emma Navarro in the 2024 US Open semifinals, after the American star Paula Badosa in straight sets in the quarterfinals. The 13th seed also beat reigning champion Coco Gauff in the fourth round and will be high on confidence going into her clash with Sabalenka.

Sabalenka, meanwhile, is excited about a third meeting with Navarro and is expecting another tough match against the American. The head-to-head record between the two players stays level at 1-1.

[Navarro is] doing really well. 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 said (H/T: WTA)

While Navarro beat Sabalenka at the Indian Wells Open in three sets, the Belarusian ousted Navarro from Roland Garros with a straight-sets win in the fourth round.

In case you missed!

• Who are Frances Tiafoe’s parents, Constant Tiafoe and Alphina Kamara?
• Emma Navarro clarifies why she still sticks to her ‘I don’t respect her’ comment on Gold medalist Qinwen Zheng

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