Aryna Sabalenka Reaches Semis As Roger Federer Watches On

Aryna Sabalenka continued her hunt for a first title in New York as she reached her fourth consecutive U.S. Open semi-final on Tuesday after beating Zheng Qinwen 6-1, 6-2.

Watched on by 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer from the Arthur Ashe Stadium stands, Sabalenka knocked out the Olympic gold medalist from the 2024 Paris Games in just an hour and 13 minutes.

The quarter-final was a rematch of this year’s Australian Open final, where Sabalenka won her second Grand Slam title on the hard courts of Melbourne.

The world no. 2, runner-up to Coco Gauff at the U.S. Open last year, now has an incredible 9-1 record in Grand Slam quarter-finals.

With the legendary Federer in attendance, the hard-hitting Belarusian said she strived to play her best tennis against her Chinese opponent.

“I saw him there, saw him on the big screen,” Sabalenka said about Federer, who won five of his 20 major titles at the U.S. Open consecutively between 2004 and 2008.

“I was like, OK, 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,” Sabalenka added with a laugh.

‘Drinks On Me’

In the semi-final on Thursday, Sabalenka will face American and first-time major semifinalist Emma Navarro.

Asked in an on-court interview how she might sway the home fans to cheer for her against local favorite Navarro, Sabalenka jokingly said: “Drinks on me tonight?

“Drink on me and please give me some support in the next match,” she added, as thousands of spectators clapped and applauded the second seed.

Last year, Sabalenka called out the Flushing Meadows crowd for a lack of support during the final against home favorite Gauff.

Title Favorite

According to the WTA, Sabalenka is the first woman to reach four straight U.S. Open semi-finals since Serena Williams made six in a row between 2011 and 2016.

The 26-year-old Sabalenka was among the pre-tournament favorites for the hard-court major, having won the Australian Open this year.

“If you get to the top-5 level, anyway, everyone will take you as a favorite,” Sabalenka said.

“But as I always say, it’s not about being favorite, it’s about how hard you’re ready to fight for it. It’s going to be tough moments in the matches when you don’t feel your best and you have to go through it.

“But I’m really glad they take me as a favorite, and I’ll do my very best to hold this beautiful trophy,” she signed off.