Paris, France — China’s rising tennis star Zheng Qinwen faced a formidable challenge on Tuesday, bowing out of the French Open quarterfinals after a spirited match against top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus. The encounter ended with Sabalenka securing a 7-6(3), 6-3 victory at Roland-Garros.
Entering the match with confidence after snapping a six-match losing streak against Sabalenka in Rome last month, the 22-year-old Zheng displayed aggression from the start. She broke Sabalenka’s serve in the third game, taking an early 3-1 lead. However, a series of unforced errors, including a pivotal double fault in the eighth game, allowed the World No. 1 to break back and level the score.
As the first set intensified, Zheng saved a set point in the 12th game, pushing it into a tiebreaker. Despite jumping ahead 2-0 in the tiebreak, Sabalenka rallied to win seven of the next eight points, clinching the set 7-6(3).
In the second set, Sabalenka maintained her momentum, breaking Zheng’s serve in the fifth and seventh games. Zheng fought valiantly but couldn’t overturn the deficit, with Sabalenka closing out the match 6-3.
“That was a true battle,” Sabalenka reflected after the match. “Honestly, I have no idea how I was able to break her back in the first set. I was just trying to fight and put as many balls as I could back because I didn’t start well. I’m really glad that I found my rhythm and won this match.”
Zheng acknowledged the challenges she faced during the match. “I think my game plan went quite well, but I got tight,” she admitted. “I gave so many easy mistakes after leading in the first set. I wasn’t able to stick to my game plan from the beginning until the end.”
Sabalenka advances to her second semifinal appearance in three years at Roland-Garros, where she will face Poland’s defending champion Iga Swiatek. Swiatek defeated Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 6-1, 7-5 in her quarterfinal match.
Looking ahead to the semifinal, Swiatek said, “It’s always a challenge against Aryna. The Madrid final against her is one of the best and most exciting finals that I have played.”
Zheng’s exit marks the end of a promising run at the French Open, but her performance has solidified her status as a player to watch on the global stage.
