© Getty Images Sports-Sarah Steele
Aryna Sabalenka, 25, became the first player since Serena Williams in 2016 to reach the semifinals of all four Grand Slam tournaments in the same season. On Wednesday, Sabalenka defeated Zheng Qinwen 6-1 6-4 to advance to the US Open semifinals.
Earlier this year, Sabalenka became a Grand Slam champion at the Australian Open. Subsequently, Sabalenka was eliminated in two consecutive semi-finals at the French Open and Wimbledon. Now, Sabalenka has advanced to the US Open semifinals and is two wins away from winning her second Grand Slam.
Aryna Sabalenka is the only active woman to reach the semi-finals of all four majors in one year 👏
The last person to achieve this feat was Serena Williams in 2016. pic.twitter.com/y30L7aOlCw —ESPN (@espn) September 6, 2023
“I just gave myself another chance to do better in the semifinals.
I still have things to do in New York. I would consider becoming world No. 1 after the U.S. Open. “
Sabalenka said after defeating Zheng.
Sabalenka defeats Solemn, emulates Williams’ Grand Slam feat
Sabalenka got off to a stunning start against Zheng, with the Belarusian breaking serve consecutively and taking a 5-0 lead.
After losing the first five games, Zheng Zhi finally took the set in the sixth game after serving. However, things didn’t change much and Sabalenka routinely bowed out in the first set in the following match.
After losing the first set easily, Zheng Zhi improved his level in the second set and held the first three serve games. The first six games of the second set were tied three times. But then, Sabalenka got the first break point of the second set in the seventh game and led 4-3.
Sabalenka led 5-3 and gained match point with Zheng Shuang’s serve, but the Chinese team saved the game and successfully extended the game. But missing a match point in the ninth game did not affect Sabalenka. She achieved her second match point in the tenth service game. In the U.S. Open semifinals, Sabalenka faced the winner of the match between Maketa Vondrousova and Madison Keys.