Qinwen Zheng hopes to break her losing streak against Aryna Sabalenka in Tuesday's top-10 quarter-final battle at the US Open.
The Chinese player advanced to consecutive last-eight matches at Flushing Meadows after a high-quality fourth-round match with Donna Vekic and will face the woman who eliminated her at the same stage 12 months back.
Match preview
Zheng beat Vekic in a thrilling three-setter that was just shy of three hours, finishing 7-6(2), 4-6, 6-2 in a rematch of last month's comfortable two-set victory in the gold medal match at the Paris Olympic Games.
Although the round-four encounter had the same outcome, the beaten Croatian competed commendably, with her typical ball-striking and court coverage forcing the best out of herself and her opponent in the latest-ever finish to a women's singles match in US Open history.
The upshot of consecutive quarter-final appearances in New York is a rematch with Sabalenka, who got the better of the then-20-year-old at the same stage in 2023 en route to the Belarusian's run to a first final in Queens.
The Chinese No. 7 seed has not had a straightforward run to her third Slam quarter-final, underscored by two comeback wins in rounds one and two before another three-setter in her recent victory over Vekic.
Zheng has won more Slam matches at the US Open — 10 victories in her third appearance — and an 11th on Tuesday will arguably be her biggest.
Sabalenka seeks to avoid that eventuality, keen to advance into a fourth straight semi-final in New York in her third tour-level match-up against Zheng.
Last year's runner-up won the tune-up WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati, beating Jessica Pegula in the decider to complete a five-match run without dropping a set en route to the success, and she looks to push for this year's title after losing in the 2023 final against Coco Gauff.
Sabalenka's winning sequence without dropping a set was halted in the comeback victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova in the third round, even if normal service resumed in Sunday's 6-2, 6-4 triumph over former doubles partner Elise Mertens.
The consistent 26-year-old two-time Grand Slam champion has progressed to the semi-finals in eight of her last 11 main draw appearances at the big four events and pursues a ninth showing in 12 by getting the better of her younger Chinese opponent.
If the No. 2 seed secures the win on Tuesday, a last-four match with Paula Badosa or Emma Navarro will follow; however, the Belarusian cannot look that far ahead and must focus on defeating the motivated Zheng.
Tournament so far
Qinwen Zheng:
First round: vs. Amanda Anisimova 4-6 6-4 6-2
Second round: vs. Erika Andreeva 6-7[3] 6-1 6-2
Third round: vs. Jule Niemeier 6-2 6-1
Round of 16: vs. Donna Vekic 7-6[2] 4-6 6-2
Aryna Sabalenka:
First round: vs. Priscilla Hon 6-3 6-3
Second round: vs. Lucia Bronzetti 6-3 6-1
Third round: vs. Ekaterina Alexandrova 2-6 6-1 6-2
Round of 16: vs. Elise Mertens 6-2 6-4
Head To Head
US Open (2023) - Quarter-final: Sabalenka 6-1 6-4
Australian Open (2024) - Final: Sabalenka 6-3 6-2
Sabalenka leads her head-to-head with Zheng 2-0, having notched both victories in the leading events, including the Belarusian's successful title defence Down Under in Australia.
Although the No. 2 seed has not dropped a set in previous match-ups against her younger opponent, Tuesday possibly represents the Chinese player's best chance of laying a glove on last year's runner-up.
We say: Sabalenka to win in three sets
Zheng's impressive serve in New York, generating 48 aces — more than double of anyone remaining in the women's draw — and winning 80% of first-serve points, suggests that she could finally secure a set against the second seed.
Regardless, Sabalenka's problem-solving and controlled aggression should ultimately see her triumph in three against the 21-year-old.
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