Aryna Sabalenka and Zheng Qinwen are set to rekindle their competition in the Miami Open’s Round of 16. Both athletes secured victories in their third-round encounters on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium, though their paths to success differed.
In the evening session, top-ranked player and BNP Paribas Open victor Sabalenka distanced herself from American Caty McNally, dominating by taking 10 of the final 12 games for a 6-4, 6-2 win. This came after Zheng’s impressive comeback, where she defeated 15th seed Madison Keys with a score of 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Miami: Scores | Draws | Order of play
This victory was significant for Zheng, who is regaining her stride on the WTA Tour, sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, after undergoing surgery for a major elbow injury last year. It represented her initial success against a Top 20 opponent in the PIF WTA Rankings since last spring’s Roland Garros. She now advances to confront Sabalenka for the ninth time, aiming for her second win in their most recent three encounters.
Following six consecutive losses to Sabalenka, Zheng achieved her maiden victory against her rival in Rome last May. She now harbors aspirations of preventing Sabalenka from claiming a consecutive Miami title and achieving the coveted Sunshine Double.
Analyzing Zheng’s remarkable turnaround: Once her 2-hour, 17-minute match against Keys concluded, Zheng admitted she found it challenging to match the intensity of Keys’ shots during the initial set and the beginning of the second.
“Initially, the ball felt like a bomb; I was unable to react. I haven’t encountered such a fast-paced match in quite some time,” she commented. The scoreline nearly slipped away from her when she faced a 0-40 deficit on her serve, with Keys ahead 6-4, 1-0.
However, once she adapted to the rapid tempo of the match, the 2024 Olympic gold medalist became unstoppable. Zheng concluded the match having hit 31 winners – twice the number Keys managed with 15 – with 23 of these occurring in the second and third sets.
Having failed to secure a single break point in the opening set, Zheng generated 13 opportunities in the subsequent two sets, converting four. Furthermore, she fended off 10 out of 11 break points against her during this period, including all nine in the second set.
Sabalenka’s ongoing quest for “peak tennis”: Sabalenka’s encounter with McNally began in a manner reminiscent of her previous match against fellow American Ann Li. In the earlier match, Sabalenka held a 4-1 lead in the first set before Li equalized at 4-4; similarly, against McNally, she relinquished a 4-2 advantage as her opponent played exceptionally.
Nevertheless, as Sabalenka remarked during her post-match interview, the ninth game was pivotal. She required six deuces to secure her serve – recovering from a 15-30 deficit – and then broke McNally for a third time to close out the set. Subsequently, she claimed four consecutive games from a 2-2 tie in the second set, completing her victory in 1 hour and 25 minutes.
McNally registered 20 winners against only nine unforced errors throughout the match, highlighting the necessity for Sabalenka to hit her stride precisely when it mattered. Of Sabalenka’s total of 26 winners for the match, nineteen originated from her forehand.
Sabalenka’s approach to Zheng’s upcoming challenge? The top-ranked player is not underestimating the threat presented by Zheng, despite having prevailed in most of their previous meetings. She emphasized the importance of focusing on what she can control.
“My attention will be on myself and my own game. I’ll strive to maintain focus from the opening point to the very end,” Sabalenka stated. “She is a phenomenal player, and we’ve competed many times. While my record against her is strong, that doesn’t guarantee anything. Our matches are consistently challenging. I always anticipate playing her; it’s always a fierce contest, and I truly relish it.”