Anticipates another intense clash with Swiatek in French Open, as per Sabalenka
A Vibrant Rivalry Unfolds on the Clay Courts
In a gripping showdown, the formidable Aryna Sabalenka bested Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 in the quarterfinals of the ongoing Paris tournament. This victory sets the stage for an electric semi-final battle against the three-time defending champion, Iga Swiatek.
Swiatek, the tournament's fifth seed, carved her path to this highly anticipated match-up by outclassing Elina Svitolina 6-1, 7-5.
Sabalenka and Swiatek, two powerhouses well-acquainted with each other, have traded victories across the net 12 times, with Swiatek leading the series 8-4. On clay, the Polish player has come out on top five out of six times, including their recent encounters in the 2024 finals in Rome and Madrid. Sabalenka's lone win on clay came in the 2023 Madrid final, and their most recent clash on hard court in Cincinnati last October ended in a straight sets victory for Sabalenka [1].
Speaking of her rivalry with Swiatek, Sabalenka expressed," Yeah, I mean, there wasn't much communication or practice before, but now we're getting along better, and we know each other quite well. We've had some intense battles in the past. If it's Iga, I'm really excited, and it's going to be high-level matches... I'm super excited to give it my best shot."
Swietek has reportedly been practicing with Sabalenka for the past two weeks, stating, "It's great always to practice with Aryna. She gives a great rhythm, and the practice always has quality. I feel like we both know how each other plays, so it's not like you're going to find something extraordinary there."
Their semi-final showdown promises to be a thrilling display of raw talent and fierce competition. Let's see who emerges victorious!
The Tussle for the Title
In the first set against Zheng, Sabalenka trailed 4-2, but her opponent's numerous unforced errors allowed Sabalenka to fight back and snatch the set. The second set was a close-fought battle before Sabalenka broke back to lead 4-3, taking advantage of her opponent's errors [2].
Zheng, on an impressive 10-match winning streak since her Olympic gold in Paris, believes her nervousness was to blame for her errors. "In the first set, I made a lot of unnecessary mistakes," Zheng admitted. "I gave her too many chances. I was really tense because I've had so much hunger to win the French Open. I think that affected my performance today."
Meanwhile, the talented Sabalenka is gunning for her sixth Grand Slam final berth. Having already captured three Grand Slam titles -- at the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024 and the US Open last year -- Sabalenka is eager to add another major title to her trophy case.
As the tournament progresses, fans can expect nothing less than an exhilarating display of tennis prowess from both Sabalenka and Swiatek [3].
© 2025 AFP
[1] Wikipedia - Tennis Head-to-Head
[2] French Open - Live Scores
[3] Tennis Majors - Iga Swiatek Career Match-ups
During the semi-finals of the Paris tournament, Sabalenka and Swiatek are set to play a riveting match of tennis, showcasing their powerful talents on the clay courts. Both players have had multiple encounters across various tournaments, with Swiatek leading the series 8-4, including a recent win on clay in the 2024 finals in Rome and Madrid.
