The 2025 French Open has reached a fever pitch, and the women’s quarter-final showdown between world number one Aryna Sabalenka and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen promises to be a blockbuster. Fresh off a commanding 7-5, 6-3 victory over Amanda Anisimova on June 1, 2025, Sabalenka is laser-focused on settling a score with Zheng, who handed her a rare defeat in the Italian Open quarter-finals just weeks ago. “I want to get my revenge,” Sabalenka declared with steely determination. “It’s always tough matches against her. She’s a great player. Of course, I expect a great battle. I’m super excited to face her in the quarter-finals.” This clash at Roland Garros, pitting Sabalenka’s relentless power against Zheng’s clay-court prowess, is set to be one of the tournament’s defining moments.
Sabalenka’s journey to the quarter-finals has been a masterclass in dominance, tempered by moments of vulnerability that showcase her growth as a player. Against Anisimova, a player who had won five of their seven previous encounters, Sabalenka faced a stern test. She surged to a 4-1 lead in the first set, only for Anisimova to claw back to 5-5, earning break points. Yet, Sabalenka’s evolved game—marked by newfound variety, including drop shots and net play—proved decisive. “As much as I could, I tried to change the rhythm against her,” she explained. “I think I did it pretty well, and overall I stayed really aggressive. Those little moments of variety help me a lot to put extra pressure on her.” Her 7-5, 6-3 win, sealed in one hour and 32 minutes, marked her third consecutive French Open quarter-final appearance, underscoring her hunger to claim her first title on the Parisian clay. “I am super hungry for this tournament. I want to stay until the very last day,” she added.
Zheng, the world number eight, has been equally impressive, carving her own path through the draw with a blend of power and resilience. Her 7-6(5), 1-6, 6-3 victory over Liudmila Samsonova in the fourth round showcased her ability to dig deep, particularly on the red dirt where she thrives. Zheng’s Olympic gold medal win at Roland Garros in 2024, where she ended Iga Swiatek’s 25-match unbeaten streak, has imbued her with a champion’s swagger. “I still remember how many times I fell on the ground last year,” Zheng said after her win over Samsonova, her voice tinged with nostalgia. “Even today, I still remember the Olympic Games moment on court. I say to myself during the match, ‘Keep fighting, just keep going on, don’t look at the score, and let’s see what’s going to happen.’”
The stakes are high for this quarter-final, as Sabalenka holds a commanding 6-1 head-to-head record over Zheng, with their lone clay-court meeting in Rome ending in Zheng’s favor, 6-4, 6-3. That loss, Sabalenka admitted, was partly due to exhaustion. “I was pretty exhausted in Rome. Honestly, I was playing that tournament constantly thinking that I shouldn’t be playing. I needed a little rest before Roland Garros,” she reflected. “I think maybe because the courts are a little bit slower, so she has a bit more time to prepare her shots. Now I’m fresh and ready to go.” Zheng, meanwhile, attributed her Rome breakthrough to a shift in mindset. “I think the few times when I faced her in the beginning, I gave her too much respect,” she said. “Today, I’m just happy that I stayed calm and faced her like a normal player.”
This matchup is a clash of contrasting styles and narratives. Sabalenka, the Belarusian powerhouse, has transformed her game, adding finesse to her blistering groundstrokes. Her 90.5% win rate in Grand Slam matches since 2020 reflects her dominance, yet Roland Garros remains the one major where she has yet to reach the final, with semi-final losses in 2023 and 2024. Zheng, the 22-year-old Chinese star, is riding a wave of confidence on clay, where she boasts a 17-3 record in her last 20 matches. Her ability to save break points—defending all five against Sabalenka in Rome—makes her a formidable opponent.
As the two prepare to face off, the tennis world anticipates a baseline battle for the ages. Sabalenka’s aggressive play and improved net game will test Zheng’s patience and movement, while Zheng’s heavy groundstrokes and clay-court comfort could push Sabalenka to her limits. With a semi-final berth at stake, and the memory of Rome looming large, Sabalenka’s quest for revenge adds an extra layer of intrigue. “I’m super excited to face her in the quarter-finals,” Sabalenka reiterated, her focus unwavering. For Zheng, it’s a chance to prove her Rome victory was no fluke. As Roland Garros braces for this seismic showdown, one thing is certain: the clay courts of Paris will bear witness to a battle of wills, skill, and unyielding ambition.
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