On a gusty afternoon at Roland Garros, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka delivered on her vow for redemption, battling past China’s Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in a thrilling 7-6(7-3), 6-3 quarter-final victory to secure her place in the 2025 French Open semi-finals. The Belarusian powerhouse, still chasing her first Paris title, overcame a challenging head-to-head history and blustery conditions on Court Philippe-Chatrier to set up a blockbuster clash with three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek. Sabalenka’s triumph was not just a testament to her skill but a fiery response to her recent defeat by Zheng in Rome, proving her resolve to dominate on clay and cementing her status as a formidable title contender.
The match was a high-stakes rematch of their 2024 Australian Open final, where Sabalenka had triumphed, but Zheng’s 6-4, 6-3 upset in the Italian Open last month had snapped her six-match losing streak against the world No. 1. “It’s always tough matches against her,” Sabalenka said, acknowledging Zheng’s prowess. “She’s a great player. Of course, I expect a great battle, and I’m super excited to face her in the quarterfinals, and I want to get my revenge.” True to her word, Sabalenka brought relentless intensity to the clay, navigating an early break down in the first set and a wind that frustrated both players. “That was a true battle—I have no idea how I was able to get back into that first set,” she admitted, reflecting on the grit required to claw back from 2-4 to force a tiebreak.
Zheng, the No. 8 seed and 2024 Olympic gold medalist, came out swinging, breaking Sabalenka’s serve in the third game with a pair of blistering forehand winners. Her court positioning, which had neutralized Sabalenka’s power in Rome, kept the match tight, with a spectacular drop volley and a down-the-line winner earning applause even from her opponent. Yet, Sabalenka’s evolution as a player—marked by newfound variety with drop shots and net play—proved decisive. She broke back for 4-4, dominating the tiebreak with a long forehand from Zheng, and seized control in the second set despite trading breaks. “I tried to change the rhythm against her,” Sabalenka explained, a tactic that disrupted Zheng’s flow and led to 31 unforced errors compared to Sabalenka’s 18.
The second set saw Sabalenka’s resilience shine. After Zheng leveled the score at 3-3 with a brilliant response, Sabalenka hammered winners past her, capitalizing on a shaky service game to take a 4-3 lead. With Zheng serving at 40-0 to stay in the match, Sabalenka’s aggression turned the tables, sealing the victory in just under two hours with a barrage of winners. Her 11th Grand Slam semi-final since 2020, and second at Roland Garros, underscored her unmatched consistency, having reached the last eight in 10 consecutive majors. “I’m really happy that it is working in matches and it has given me lots of benefits,” she said of her tactical growth, crediting her team for honing her versatility.
Sabalenka’s journey to the semi-finals was a masterclass in dominance, dropping just 10 games across her first three matches against Kamilla Rakhimova, Jil Teichmann, and Olga Danilovic, and overcoming a tough Amanda Anisimova in the fourth round. Zheng, meanwhile, had powered through a three-set thriller against Liudmila Samsonova to reach her first Roland Garros quarter-final, her confidence buoyed by her Olympic triumph on the same courts. “I still remember the Olympic Games moment on court,” Zheng said after her Samsonova win, a mindset that fueled her fight despite the loss.
Now, Sabalenka faces a daunting challenge against Swiatek, who advanced with a 6-1, 7-5 win over Elina Svitolina. With Swiatek leading their head-to-head 8-4, including a victory in the 2022 US Open semi-finals, the semi-final promises a clash of titans. “Aryna has a game for every surface, so I need to focus on myself, do the work, be brave in my shots and just go for it,” Swiatek said, bracing for the battle. For Sabalenka, the semi-final is a chance to not only claim her first French Open title but also to solidify her reign as world No. 1, a position she’s held for 40 weeks. As Paris buzzes with anticipation, Sabalenka’s revenge over Zheng has set the stage for a showdown that could define the 2025 tournament.
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