French Open: Tennis first seed Aryna Sabalenka beats Olympic champ Zheng Qinwen to set up semi-final clash
PARIS, June 3 — World number one Aryna Sabalenka recovered from a slow start to systematically dismantle Paris Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in a 7-6(3) 6-3 victory on Tuesday that sent her into the French Open semi-finals.
Sabalenka suffered her first loss to Zheng in seven career meetings in the Rome quarter-finals last month and she went behind early in the opening set at a half-full Court Philippe Chatrier.
'It was a true battle and I had no idea how I could break her back and get back into the first set. I didn't start well and I'm glad I found my rhythm and won,' said Sabalenka, who took a step closer to her maiden French Open title.
'I think we're all here for one reason. Everyone wants that beautiful trophy. I'm glad I have another opportunity, another semi-final to do better than last time.
'I really hope that by the end of the claycourt season I'm really proud of myself.'
China's Zheng, bidding to emulate compatriot Li Na's 2011 triumph at Roland Garros, crushed a powerful forehand winner to break for a 2-1 lead but Sabalenka moved through the gears to level five games later and was denied on set point while up 6-5.
The 27-year-old top seed shrugged off the disappointment to glide through the tiebreak when errors crept into eighth seed Zheng's game before the players swapped breaks in a high octane second set.
A huge forehand winner put Sabalenka 5-3 up and the three-times Grand Slam champion never looked back as she set up a last-four meeting with either 13th seed Elina Svitolina or four-times champion Iga Swiatek. — Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
4 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Don't ‘fantasise' about outside help, China warns Manila as it slams EU ‘provocations' in South China Sea
BEIJING, June 5 — The Chinese embassy in the Philippines urged the European Union to stop 'provoking trouble' in the South China Sea on Thursday, and advised Manila not to 'fantasise' about relying on outside forces to resolve disputes in the waterway. An embassy spokesperson made the comments after EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas visited the Philippine capital and voiced concern over China's activities in the busy waterway, where its claims overlap those of some Southeast Asian nations. 'We urge the EU to genuinely respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea and to stop provoking trouble,' the spokesperson said in a statement on the embassy website, noting the bloc has no right to interfere. The spokesperson also said Manila should return to dialogue and consultation to manage differences with China instead of 'fantasising about relying on external forces' to resolve the South China Sea dispute. The Philippine embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. The EU and the Philippines have expressed concerns about China's 'illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive measures' against Philippine vessels and aircraft conducting lawful maritime operations in the South China Sea, according to a joint statement after Kallas met with Philippine foreign minister earlier this week. China claims sovereignty over nearly all the South China Sea, including parts of the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. — Reuters
The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
Deschamps Backs Dembele, Readies for Spain Semi-Final
DIDIER Deschamps expects the Paris St Germain players to be ready after their Champions League success when France take on Spain in the Nations League semi-finals, with the manager also backing Ousmane Dembele for the Ballon d'Or. PSG secured their first Champions League trophy with Saturday's 5-0 hammering of Inter Milan, with France's Warren Zaire-Emery, Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue, Lucas Hernandez and Dembele all involved for the winners. Marcus Thuram and Benjamin Pavard also played for the losing side, and there has been little time to recover before Thursday's game in Stuttgart. "They are here, so I am counting on them," Deschamps told reporters. "I found them very happy on Monday evening, of course, with a certain fatigue as well. Then, there were Benjamin and Marcus on the other side. The feelings and emotions were not the same. "Ideally, when there is a peak like that, of course, you always have to come back down, but now, we need to quickly get back up because the match is close." Dembele was named Champions League player of the season, and much of the talk since Saturday's final has been about the Ballon d'Or award, with many seeing the PSG forward as the main rival to Spain and Barcelona's Lamine Yamal. "Of course I am for Ousmane, since he is French and with the season he is celebrating," Deschamps said. "Obviously, this Nations League can bring some elements of response, the Club World Cup too. If I have to choose, I tell you Ous, one hundred percent, of course. "If you ask me about the Spaniards, I don't think they will tell you the same thing. But obviously, Ousmane, with the season he is having, deserves it." While Kylian Mbappe left PSG for Real Madrid at the end of last season without winning the Champions League, and ended this season without a league title in Spain, he was the top scorer in LaLiga and remains an important part of Deschamps' plans. "You know his season as well as I do. He is now in very good shape and with a much better footballing and physical potential," Deschamps said. "Nothing changes, Kylian will have a central position." Germany and Portugal meet in the other semi-final on Wednesday in Munich, and the final on Sunday will also take place at the Allianz Arena, the scene of PSG's Champions League triumph.
The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
Deschamps counting on PSG players and backing Dembele for Ballon d'Or
DIDIER Deschamps expects the Paris St Germain players to be ready after their Champions League success when France take on Spain in the Nations League semi-finals, with the manager also backing Ousmane Dembele for the Ballon d'Or. PSG secured their first Champions League trophy with Saturday's 5-0 hammering of Inter Milan, with France's Warren Zaire-Emery, Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue, Lucas Hernandez and Dembele all involved for the winners. Marcus Thuram and Benjamin Pavard also played for the losing side, and there has been little time to recover before Thursday's game in Stuttgart. "They are here, so I am counting on them," Deschamps told reporters. "I found them very happy on Monday evening, of course, with a certain fatigue as well. Then, there were Benjamin and Marcus on the other side. The feelings and emotions were not the same. "Ideally, when there is a peak like that, of course, you always have to come back down, but now, we need to quickly get back up because the match is close." Dembele was named Champions League player of the season, and much of the talk since Saturday's final has been about the Ballon d'Or award, with many seeing the PSG forward as the main rival to Spain and Barcelona's Lamine Yamal. "Of course I am for Ousmane, since he is French and with the season he is celebrating," Deschamps said. "Obviously, this Nations League can bring some elements of response, the Club World Cup too. If I have to choose, I tell you Ous, one hundred percent, of course. "If you ask me about the Spaniards, I don't think they will tell you the same thing. But obviously, Ousmane, with the season he is having, deserves it." While Kylian Mbappe left PSG for Real Madrid at the end of last season without winning the Champions League, and ended this season without a league title in Spain, he was the top scorer in LaLiga and remains an important part of Deschamps' plans. "You know his season as well as I do. He is now in very good shape and with a much better footballing and physical potential," Deschamps said. "Nothing changes, Kylian will have a central position." Germany and Portugal meet in the other semi-final on Wednesday in Munich, and the final on Sunday will also take place at the Allianz Arena, the scene of PSG's Champions League triumph.
