The US Open
US Open Women’s Day 10
Aryna Sabalenka completed a matched set of 2023 Grand Slam semi-final places as the second seed defeated Chinese challenger Zheng Qinwen 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the final four at the US open on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old who will take over the WTA top ranking spot on Monday after the 75-week reign of Iga Swiatek, matched the last woman to sweep the semis, Serena Williams in the 2016 season.
Sabalenka will bid to move into her second final this season at a major when she squares off on Thursday against American Madison Keys, who stunned Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 6-1, 6-4 in 81 minutes.
Keys swept the opening set and hung tough in the second to thrill home fans; she saved all nine break points she faced – including five in the eighth game of the second set.
“I knew she would be a tricky player as she gets so many balls back,” the winner said. “It was not my cleanest match, but I tried to get to the net and be aggressive.
“I wanted to be on the front foot at all times.”
Semi-final opponent Sabalenka beat Keys in their last meeting in July at Wimbledon.
“This will be a completely different match,” Keys said. “There will be a lot of hard hitting and not a lot of long points.
“I’ll buckle up and try to get as many balls back as I can.”
Sabalenka is slowly getting used to the idea of playing as world No. 1 from next week.
“I’m super happy with this achievement in my career, but, I mean, it’s not a big change. I’ve been No. 2 – now I’m No. 1,” she said.
“It’s just a difference of position in the draw. I still have to bring my best tennis. I still have to play my best.
“People will try to just try to chase me and get me. But it’s just an extra motivation for me
“Seeing them really trying their best to beat me, it’s an extra power and energy for me to keep playing, keep pushing, keep getting better.”
Sabalenka moved past her Asian opponent in 74 minutes, finishing with 17 winners and a dozen unforced errors.
“I definitely played great tennis today,” she said. “I’m happy with the win against an unbelievable opponent.
“I’ve now got another opportunity to do better in the semi-finals.”
January’s Australian Open winner has won all seven of her semi-finals at the majors and stands 13-2 over Chinese opposition.
“I’m not trying to block the stats; when you’re trying to block something, it’s going to keep getting in your head and it can get really annoying,” she said of her growing list of records.
“I know that I have to do my job. I have to go on court. I have to play my best tennis. I have to fight for it.
“I know that if I’ll be fighting for my dream, I know that I can get it.”
Alexander Zverev on Thursday made a long-sought after return to the Shanghai Masters semi-finals, booking his first final four at the event since 2019, defeating Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4.
The 2027 year-end No. 1 last got this far as the Covid pandemic began to surface in China in 2019. The event was not played 2020-2022, with the German making modest progress here over the past three editions since resumption.
After winning his 62nd match of the season, the 29-year-old was pleased with his performance.
“I think it was a huge step up. From just being on the court I felt both of us were playing really well.
“I was, a lot of the time, outhitting Alex, which is difficult to do from the baseline because he is so fast and he loves this kind of court speed here.
“I felt good and I’m happy with the step up from the past couple of matches.”
Zverev advanced in 78 minutes, sending over 10 aces as he defeated the Australian for the ninth time in their 13 matches.
Added the reigning Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows Grand Slam champion: “I’ve been handling pressure quite okay this year. In a way you play a bit more relaxed.
“Once Jannik (SInner) unfortunately announced he won’t play for the rest of the year, I’m 4,000 points ahead of everyone else, so I trust myself enough that I’m going to win [enough matches].
Zverev will play for the final to wrap up the Asian swing as he takes on Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who advanced when Arthur Gea quit their quarter-final with injury.
Alexander Zverev will claim world year-end No. 1 honours for the first time on the back of two Grand Slam titles and a final this season.,
The ATP confirmed the changing of the guard as current No. 1 Jannik Sinner ended his season early last week due to a knee injury which has kept him off court since winning Wimbledon three months ago.
Zverev won Roland Garros and US Open trophies and lost to Sinner in the All England Club final.
His reign at the top will begin after the ATP Final in Turin with the ranking period starting on November 23.
Zverev will be 29 years, 217 days old on the date, three days older than Andre Agassi in 1999 (29 years, 214 days).
Main photo:- Alexander Zverev by ISF Ltd
The protagonists from the just-completed China Open will give the WTA Wuhan event a miss, with both Zheng Qinwen and finalist Mirra Andreeva skipping the key Asian date.
Beijing weekend champion Zheng who thrilled a nation with her home title victory, is claiming a right shoulder injury which Andreeva feels “fatigue.”
“I’m very sorry to share that I will be withdrawing from this year’s Wuhan Open,” Zheng said in a statement. “Wuhan is where my tennis dream began, and the Wuhan Open is also where I made my breakthrough at the WTA 1000 level.
“I have always looked forward to competing in front of my hometown fans.
“Since returning from injury, however, I have played a demanding stretch of tennis over the past month and a half, competing at the US Open, the Billie Jean King Cup, and the China Open.
“My body is feeling very fatigued after this intense run of matches. I look forward to returning to the Wuhan Open next year and stepping onto the court in my best possible form!”
Andreeva’s Beijing performance has lifted the teenager into the ranking top 3 for the first time and gives her a shot at the world No. 1 ranking by season’s end next month.
Main photo :-Zheng Quinwen by ISF Ltd
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