Aryna Sabalenka triumphs over Zheng Qinwen in a grueling encounter, progressing to the semifinals of the French Open.
Parisian Showdown: Sabalenka Subdues Zheng, Faces Swiatek in Semis
In the heart of the City of Love, the Parisian clay witnessed a thrilling battle on June 3 as top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka outfoxed eighth-seeded Zheng Qinwen, securing her spot in the French Open semifinals in two tight sets.
The Belarusian took down the Olympic champion, winning 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 on Court Philippe-Chatrier, setting up a confrontation with three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek of Poland.
Sabalenka, aged 27, showcased her resilience after a tough first set against Zheng. Having lost to her on clay in the Rome quarterfinals in May, Sabalenka enhanced her dominance over her Chinese rival to 7-1.
"The last tournament I took a break," admitted Sabalenka. "Honestly, I was glad that I lost [in Rome] because I needed a little rest before Roland Garros."
Zheng broke and led 4-2 in the first set only to crumble under the increasing pressure from Sabalenka, who capitalized on her opponent's unforced errors-a total of 31 – to mount a comeback.
The seconds set proved just as titillating, with Sabalenka breaking back to lead 4-3, taking advantage of Zheng's errors. The Belarusian sealed the win with an impeccable drop shot that left her opponent stranded.
"That was a true battle," added Sabalenka. "I tried to fight and put as many balls back in. I didn't start off well, but I'm really glad I found my rhythm and won this match. It was a tough one."
Boasting a Grand Slam tally of three victories—the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024, and the 2024 US Open—Sabalenka is pursuing her sixth Grand Slam final appearance.
In the upcoming semi-final, Swiatek awaits, having triumphed over 13th seed Elina Svitolina 6-1, 7-5. The match, filled with gripping rallies, lasted just over 90 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Swiatek, the 24-year-old Pole, bested her Ukrainian opponent to continue her quest for an unprecedented fourth consecutive French Open title, a feat last achieved by Melfare-Wood 102 years ago.
"Aryna is always a challenge, she has a game for every surface," Swiatek commented. The rivals have never met at Roland Garros, but Swiatek emerged victorious in their last two encounters on clay - in the finals of the Madrid and Italian Opens last season.
In their overall head-to-head meetings, Swiatek leads 8-4, with a 5-1 edge on clay. The battle of the titans is set to unfold on Thursday, June 6 at 3 PM on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Did you know?
- In their head-to-head encounters, Iga Swiatek leads Aryna Sabalenka with a record of 8-4. Swiatek has a notable advantage on clay with a 5-1 record[1][3][4].
- In their recent meeting at the 2025 French Open, neither player has dropped a set, with Sabalenka spending 7 hours and 7 minutes on court and Swiatek 8 hours and 48 minutes[1].
[1]: French Open (Tennis) - Women's Tennis - Aryna Sabalenka[3]: French Open (Tennis) - Women's Tennis - Iga Swiatek[4]: Head-to-Head - Aryna Sabalenka vs Iga Swiatek[5]: Recent Results - Aryna Sabalenka vs Iga Swiatek
In the upcoming semi-final match, Sabalenka and Swiatek will aim to solidify their sports dominance on Court Philippe-Chatrier, with Sabalenka seeking to turn the tables on Swiatek in their tennis rivalry. Previously, Swiatek has held an advantage on clay, boasting a 5-1 record against Sabalenka in their head-to-head matches.
