Sabalenka beats Zhang in Cincinnati quarter-finals
Aryna Sabalenka beat Shuai Zhang in straight sets during quarter-final competition in Cincinnati on Friday. Sabalenka will go up against either Jessica Pegula or Caroline Garcia in the semis.
Aryna Sabalenka, Cincinnati 2022 © Icon SMI / Panoramic
Big-serving Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, the No 6 seed, got past Shuai Zhang 6-4, 7-6(1) to reach the semi-finals of the Western & Southern Open on Friday evening. Sabalenka was once again plagued by double-faults, hitting 12 in total, but she fired seven aces and made up for her five service donations by breaking Zhang six times.
The world No 7 advanced after one hour and 56 minutes.
Sabalenka will next face the winner of a match between American Jessica Pegula, the No 7 seed, and French qualifier Caroline Garcia.
It was still an impressive run in Cincinnati for Zhang, who opened with an upset of Naomi Osaka before defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova and Anett Kontaveit.
Cincinnati WTA 1000, other quarter-final results:
- Jessica Pegula vs. Caroline Garcia
- Petra Kvitova beat Ajla Tomljanovic (Q): 6-2, 6-3
- Madison Keys beat Elena Rybakina: 6-2, 6-4
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