In a pulsating fourth-round clash at the 2025 French Open, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka exacted revenge against Amanda Anisimova, overcoming a fierce challenge to secure a 7-5, 6-3 victory on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. The Belarusian powerhouse, who had lost five of her seven previous encounters with the American, showcased her resilience and tactical growth to advance to her third consecutive Roland Garros quarterfinal. Now, Sabalenka faces a formidable test against Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng, who recently defeated her on clay, setting the stage for a blockbuster showdown.
The match against Anisimova was a test of Sabalenka’s mettle, as the 16th seed brought her trademark power to the Parisian clay. Anisimova, who holds a 5-3 head-to-head edge over Sabalenka, including three clay-court wins, pushed the top seed to the brink in a tightly contested first set. Sabalenka surged to a 4-1 lead, leveraging her blistering groundstrokes and five aces to dictate play. But Anisimova, a former French Open semifinalist in 2019, roared back, saving a set point at 5-3 and leveling the score at 5-5 with ferocious baseline hitting. “She is a great player, a tough one,” Sabalenka said post-match, acknowledging the challenge. “We had tough battles in the past. Honestly, I was so focused, put as much pressure on her, change some rhythm.”
The turning point came at 6-5 in the first set, when Sabalenka unleashed a crucial ace to hold serve, then broke Anisimova with a pinpoint backhand down the line to clinch the set. The second set saw Sabalenka race to a 5-2 lead, but Anisimova’s tenacity shone through as she saved six match points, forcing Sabalenka to dig deep. “I am super happy with the win. She challenged me a lot,” Sabalenka admitted, crediting her ability to vary her game—mixing slices, drop shots, and net approaches—for keeping Anisimova off balance. After a grueling one hour and 32 minutes, Sabalenka sealed the victory on her eighth match point, celebrating with a signature polaroid snap of the court, a ritual she’s embraced this season.
Sabalenka’s 2025 campaign has been nothing short of stellar, with a 38-6 record, three titles in Brisbane, Miami, and Madrid, and finals in Australia, Indian Wells, and Stuttgart. Her dominance at Roland Garros, where she’s dropped just 10 games across three matches, underscores her evolution on clay, a surface where she reached the semifinals in 2023. The 27-year-old, who has reached at least the quarterfinals in her last 10 Grand Slams, is hungry for her first French Open title. “I’m super hungry this time around and want to be there till the very last day,” she declared, her eyes set on surpassing her previous best in Paris.
Anisimova, despite the loss, showed why she remains a dangerous opponent. Her 8-4 clay record this season, bolstered by a Qatar title and a Charleston semifinal, highlights her resurgence. The American’s ability to match Sabalenka’s power, particularly in their heavy-hitting rallies, kept the match competitive, but her 25 unforced errors compared to Sabalenka’s 15 proved costly. Her performance in Paris, reaching the fourth round for the first time since 2019, signals a return to form after injury setbacks.
Now, Sabalenka turns her attention to Qinwen Zheng, the No. 7 seed and Olympic gold medalist, who advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Victoria Mboko. Zheng, who stunned Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3 in the Rome quarterfinals just weeks ago, poses a significant threat. The 22-year-old Chinese star, with a 9-3 clay record this season, has never taken a set off Sabalenka in their three prior Grand Slam meetings, but her recent victory in Rome showcased her growing confidence and powerful groundstrokes. Sabalenka, however, remains unfazed, holding a 6-1 head-to-head edge, including a lopsided Australian Open final win in 2024.
The quarterfinal matchup promises fireworks, with Sabalenka’s aggressive baseline game clashing against Zheng’s heavy hitting and improved court craft. “I think I read the ball better on court and compared to one year ago,” Zheng said recently, reflecting on her evolution. Sabalenka, aware of the challenge, will lean on her experience and versatility to counter Zheng’s momentum. As the top seed continues her quest for a maiden Roland Garros crown, this battle against Zheng could define her tournament, with a potential semifinal clash against defending champion Iga Swiatek looming.
Leave a Reply