WHAT HAPPENED: Locked in and at her ruthless best, Aryna Sabalenka soared into the US Open semifinals, 6-1, 6-4, over No. 23 seed Zheng Qinwen.
On Monday, Sabalenka is set to become world No. 1 for the first time in her career. and the 25-year-old justified that new ranking with a lights-out display.
"I think I definitely played great tennis today. I’m super happy with the win against her, she’s played unbelievable tennis this US Open,” said Sabalenka. “Super happy to give myself another opportunity to do better in the semis."
In two matches since her new perch was confirmed, Sabalenka has lost just nine games in four sets.
“I’m trying to focus on my game," she added. "I’ll focus on being No. 1 after the US Open.”
The Australian Open champion opened with a complete game. A rock-'n-roll serve, a volley delicately tipped over and then a bruising backhand down the line pinged a 1-0 hold to love on the scoreboard.
Sabalenka had a real world-No.-1 swagger back to the change of ends. In contrast, Zheng—featuring in her first major quarterfinal—was just slightly off kilter, her timing just off range, and she was being heavily punished.
The No.2 seed crushed a cross-court forehand winner, as if Zheng needed any reminder of the Sabalenka firepower.
In a flash, Sabalenka had won 16 of the first 19 points to storm 4-0 in front. Zheng managed to finally get on the scoreboard for 1-5 after 24 minutes, but Sabalenka rolled on.
The second set began much more on an even keel.
At 2-2, Zheng opened up the court in a 21-shot rally to whip a forehand past Sabalenka's reach. Would there be a road back?
The incoming world No. 1 had other ideas and the relentless nature of her hitting finally forced Zheng to unravel at 3-3 for a pivotal break.
Zheng was head down, sticking to her main shots and erased match point at 3-5. Then a Sabalenka double fault opened the door.
Unfazed, untouchable, Sabalenka rattled an inside-in forehand the very next point. No doubt, Aryna was the star of the show in this arena.
WHAT IT MEANS: The No. 1 ranking is fully deserved.
A 20th victory in New York (20-5) improved Sabalenka to 7-0 in major quarterfinals.
In doing so, the 25-year-old has booked a third successive semifinal showdown at the US Open and a seventh last-four ticket in the past nine Grand Slams she's contested.
Those are a few numbers to crunch there, but simply put, Sabalenka is ultra-consistent, an intimidating ball-striker, and someone who has worked incredibly hard to sharpen her toolset.
A 1-5 semifinal record in the majors won't deter the Australian Open winner. After Melbourne, she's been there and done that now.
Into the final four, Sabalenka is 2-1 in battles with Madison Keys, including a straight-sets passage at Wimbledon back in July. Speaking of SW19, Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova is the other possible opponent. Sabalenka holds a 4-2 record, chalking up a 6-3, 7-5 victory in their most recent tussle in Adelaide at the very start of the 2023 campaign. In fact, the No. 2 seed has won their past four matches in a row.
Surely, Sabalenka is the clear favorite now to lift a second major trophy.
MATCH POINT: Sabalenka's tight-knit team gave great insight to reporters in New York at a press conference on Tuesday.
Coach Anton Dubrov and fitness trainer Jason Stacy indicated that the off-season was a crucial component for their charge's major moves in 2023.
"I will say the body language and her focus was on the court, 'I have to build myself to be better and better and better every day,'" Dubrov said. "During the match, she even said that this was easier for her to understand even when she's feeling something not great today, she still has a lot of weapons that she can use."
She's fine-tuning the mental fortitude, constantly evolving to cope with life at the very top.
"I agree with Anton; the big focus was, one, just continuing to help her build a sense of control, understand what she's doing, why she's doing something, whether it's a specific thing like a stroke, a serve, the technique, some tactics," Stacy continued.
"She's continued over the last so many years more and more and more opening up to be more vulnerable, to be open to try new things, and to be able to do the things that make her very uncomfortable rather than try and avoid it or go around it or pretend it's not there. She's like, 'Okay, just turn around and face it.'"
It's certainly paying dividends at Flushing Meadows, with the final four on the horizon.
