Aryna Sabalenka is fired up for her next big challenge at Roland Garros as she prepares to face Qinwen Zheng in the quarterfinals.
Zheng, who has reached her first French Open quarterfinals, defeated Sabalenka just a few weeks ago in Rome. And that’s precisely what lingers in the World No. 2’s mind. Now that the ‘revenge’ time is here, the World No. 2 is all set for it.
Speaking after her fourth-round win in Paris, Sabalenka didn’t shy away from expressing her motivation going into this matchup. “It’s always tough matches against her. She’s a great player,” she said. “Of course, I expect a great battle. I’m super excited to face her in the quarterfinals. I want to get my revenge. Yeah, I want to get this win after Rome.”
The upset in Rome was a surprise to many, but Sabalenka provided some context. She admitted that she wasn’t at her best physically during that tournament. During the tournament, she was constantly having doubts.
“I have to say I was pretty exhausted in Rome,” Sabalenka revealed. “Honestly, I was playing that tournament constantly thinking that I shouldn’t be playing. I needed a little rest before Roland Garros.”
That’s not all; Sabalenka also noted that the slower courts in Rome might have played to Zheng’s advantage. “I think maybe because the courts are a little bit slower, she has a bit more time to prepare her shots,” she added. “Now I’m fresh [smiling] and ready to go.”
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The Belarusian star has been in strong form at Roland Garros this year, while Zheng, on the other hand, is having a breakthrough tournament. Her run to the last eight is the best Grand Slam result of her young career, and she has shown impressive composure and shot-making under pressure.
With that being said, there is no denying that their upcoming clash promises to be one of the most exciting matchups of the tournament. Sabalenka will look to assert her experience and power, while Zheng will try to repeat her Rome performance with clever tactics.
Well, with revenge on her mind, Sabalenka is determined to flip the script. However, whether that determination turns into victory remains to be seen, but fans can expect an intense battle on the clay court of Paris.
