Sabalenka Advances to Roland Garros Quarter-Finals with Dominant Performance

 World number two Aryna Sabalenka powered into the Roland Garros quarter-finals on June 1, 2025, defeating China’s Qinwen Zheng 6-3, 6-4 in a commanding 82-minute match on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

The Belarusian, chasing her first French Open title, showcased her aggressive baseline game, firing 28 winners and breaking Zheng’s serve three times. Sabalenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, overcame a nervy start, saving two break points in the opening game, to dictate play with her powerful forehand. Zheng, ranked seventh, struggled with 19 unforced errors and failed to convert her sole break point, unable to match Sabalenka’s intensity.

Sabalenka’s run in Paris, where she reached the semi-finals in 2023, reflects her clay-court improvement, with a 12-2 record in 2025. She credited her success to enhanced movement and mental resilience, saying, “I’m trusting my shots more.” Her next opponent is either Iga Swiatek or Coco Gauff, setting up a potential blockbuster. Fans, braving Paris’s rainy weather, cheered Sabalenka’s 11-match winning streak, which includes her 2025 Madrid Open title.

Zheng, despite the loss, earned praise for her resilience, having battled through a five-set thriller in the previous round. Sabalenka’s performance, watched by 15,000 spectators, reinforces her status as a title contender, with bookmakers favoring her alongside Swiatek. The women’s draw, already missing Naomi Osaka, remains fiercely competitive as the tournament progresses.