Aryna Sabalenka flexed her muscles as the incoming world number one by beating Chinese youngster Zheng Qinwen to reach the US Open semi-finals.
The second seed from Belarus cruised into the last four at Flushing Meadows for the third straight year with a commanding 6-1 6-4 victory in an hour and 13 minutes.
Zheng, 20, playing in her first grand slam quarter-final, won just four of the first 24 points of the match as Sabalenka raced into a 5-0 lead.
On a ROLL š@SabalenkaA reaches a 3rd consecutive #USOpen semifinal with her victory over Zheng
Faces the winner of Vondrousova/Keys! pic.twitter.com/GrjUbWs5lt
ā wta (@WTA) September 6, 2023
She stopped the bleeding by holding serve in the sixth game, but Sabalenka wrapped up the first set in only 27 minutes.
Zheng, seeded 23, restored some pride in the second but a break in the seventh game ensured Sabalenka became the first woman to reach the semi-finals of all four grand slams in the same year since Serena Williams in 2016.
āIām super proud of myself and my team that we have been able to adjust to different conditions, different courts. We were able to bring this consistency in my game,ā she said.
āYeah, this is something Iām really proud of, and itās just unbelievable and Iām just super happy right now that Iām being able to do this.ā
Sabalenka has dropped just 21 games in the 10 sets she has played over five rounds in New York.
The 25-year-old will take over from Iga Swiatek at the top of the rankings on Monday, ending the Poleās 75-week reign.
She added: āYou know, Iām super happy with this achievement in my career, but, I mean, itās not a big change.
āYou know, I mean, I have been number two. Now Iām number one. Itās 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 chase me and get me.
āBut it just an extra motivation for me. You know, seeing them, like, really trying their best to beat me, itās, like, an extra power and energy for me to keep playing, keep pushing, keep getting better.ā
Sabalenka will face American 17th seed Madison Keys on Thursday night.
Keys, a former Flushing Meadows runner-up, beat Wimbledon championĀ Marketa Vondrousova 6-1 6-4.
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