Miami Open 2025: Sabalenka Defeats Zheng to Advance to Paolini’s SemifinalsWorld No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka defeated China’s Zheng Qinwen 6-2, 7-5 on Tuesday, rallying in the second set to get to the Miami Open semifinals.
A matchup with Italy’s Jasmine Paolini stands between Sabalenka and a spot in the final, but the victory puts her first in the Miami final four.
“Honestly, every match is tough against her, I always have to work really hard to get the win, and today was an incredible level from both of us,” said Sabalenka.
When Sabalenka won the opening set with ease, it appeared like the Belarussian’s matchup with the ninth-seeded Zheng would be straightforward.
However, after figuring something out in between sets, Zheng came out on top, breaking Sabalenka twice to take a 4-2 lead in the match.
Sabalenka was in serious difficulty at 0–40, but she managed to rally and hold for 4–4 after displaying some symptoms of rage. She then used her aggression to create a strong finish.
The top seed broke to take a 6-5 lead after some impressive returns, and then she firmly maintained her serve with all of her strength to win.
