Categories: Trending now

Aryna Sabalenka sails into US Open semis, readies for Emma Navarro

2024-09-04 09:05:02

No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, last year’s US Open runner-up, surrendered just three games to Qinwen Zheng on Tuesday night in reaching the semifinals at Flushing Meadows for the fourth year in a row.

The quarterfinals featuring Sabalenka and No. 7 Zheng — a rematch of the Australian Open final in January won by Sabalenka — was the first matchup between players ranked in the top 10 on the women’s side at this year’s US Open.

With Roger Federer in the stands, attending the US Open for the first time since his retirement, Sabalenka displayed a typically powerful performance in a 6-1, 6-2 victory to set up a semifinals clash with Emma Navarro on Thursday.

A year ago, Sabalenka lost to American Coco Gauff in the US Open final as a partisan crowd loudly backed the champion. Now Sabalenka faces another American in Navarro.

So after her win Tuesday night, Sabalenka was asked by ESPN’s Pam Shriver what she might do “to try and get a few more people on your side?”

Sabalenka chuckled and told the folks in Arthur Ashe Stadium, “Drinks on me tonight?”

Then, repeating that offer to the thousands of spectators, the 26-year-old from Belarus added, “Please give me some support in the next match.”

She beat the 13th-seeded Navarro in the fourth round at Roland Garros but lost to her on the Indian Wells hard court earlier this year and said she expects a tough fight.

“She’s a great player,” Sabalenka said. “I saw her matches here, she’s playing incredible tennis and yeah it’s going to be great battle and I’m really looking forward to face her again.”

Sabalenka — who has won 33 of 36 sets in majors this year — is trying to become the first woman since Angelique Kerber in 2016 to win the hard-court major titles at the Australian Open and US Open.

The opponents in the other women’s semifinals match will be decided Wednesday, when No. 1 Iga Swiatek plays No. 6 Jessica Pegula, and No. 22 Beatriz Haddad Maia takes on unseeded Karolina Muchova.

Sabalenka improved to 9-1 in major quarterfinals, the second best win percentage among women since the Open era began in 1968 (min. 10 matches). Her nine major semifinals appearances since the start of 2021 lead all women’s players over that span.

The three games won by Zheng, the gold medalist at the Paris Olympics last month, were her fewest in a Grand Slam match. She made only 44% of her first serves.

“Today I felt a little bit tight,” Zheng said. “And the serve was not as what I expect.”

Zheng also noted that coming off a 2:15 a.m. finish to her fourth-round match with Donna Vekic — the latest ever for a US Open women’s match — affected her ability to practice Monday.

“Yesterday I was feeling terrible,” she said. “I couldn’t wake up. Even though I wanted to [practice, I didn’t feel] I could do it.

“I couldn’t complain … because sometimes the schedule is like this. … If I hit some balls yesterday, maybe that would help for [today’s] match, but it’s fine.”

ESPN Stats & Information, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

News Today

Share
Published by
News Today

Recent Posts

Kareena Kapoor’s Next Untitled Film With Meghna Gulzar Gets Prithviraj Sukumaran On Board

Kareena Kapoor is working with Raazi director Meghna Gulzar for her next film. The project,…

2 weeks ago

Purdue basketball freshman Daniel Jacobsen injured vs Northern Kentucky

2024-11-09 15:00:03 WEST LAFAYETTE -- Daniel Jacobsen's second game in Purdue basketball's starting lineup lasted…

2 weeks ago

Rashida Jones honors dad Quincy Jones with heartfelt tribute: ‘He was love’

2024-11-09 14:50:03 Rashida Jones is remembering her late father, famed music producer Quincy Jones, in…

2 weeks ago

Nosferatu Screening at Apollo Theatre Shows Student Interest in Experimental Cinema – The Oberlin Review

2024-11-09 14:40:03 A silent German expressionist film about vampires accompanied by Radiohead’s music — what…

2 weeks ago

What Are Adaptogens? Find Out How These 3 Herbs May Help You Tackle Stress Head-On

Let's face it - life can be downright stressful! With everything moving at breakneck speed,…

2 weeks ago

The new Mac Mini takes a small step towards upgradeable storage

Apple’s redesigned Mac Mini M4 has ditched the previous M2 machine’s SSD that was soldered…

2 weeks ago