Five-time US Open champion Roger Federer made a special appearance at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, where No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka secured her spot in the semifinals for the fourth consecutive year, as she continues her quest for her first US Open title.
In a rematch of the 2024 Australian Open final, Sabalenka dominated No. 7 seed Zheng Qinwen, the Olympic gold medalist, with a decisive score of 6-1, 6-2. This victory marks Sabalenka’s impressive record of 9-1 in Grand Slam quarterfinals throughout her career.
“I saw him there, saw him on the big screen,” Sabalenka commented on Federer, who won five consecutive US Open titles from 2004 to 2008. “I thought, OK, I have to play my best tennis so he enjoys it. I need to showcase my skills, mix it up, and come to the net.”
With her latest accomplishment, Sabalenka becomes the first woman to reach four straight US Open semifinals since Serena Williams, who achieved six from 2011 to 2016. Just two days prior, Sabalenka had already become the first woman to reach four consecutive quarterfinals since Williams’ stretch.
“If you make it to the Top 5, everyone sees you as a favorite,” Sabalenka said. “But it’s not just about being a favorite; it’s about how much you’re willing to fight. There will be tough moments when you don’t feel at your best, and you have to push through. I’m honored to be seen as a favorite, and I’ll do my utmost to hold that beautiful trophy.”
Sabalenka is now one win away from returning to the US Open final, where she finished as the runner-up to Coco Gauff last year. She is set to face Emma Navarro, the No. 13 seed and a first-time major semifinalist, on Thursday. Their previous encounters have ended in one win each.
“[Navarro] is doing really well,” Sabalenka remarked. “It’s great to see her hard work pay off as she plays smart, aggressive tennis. Our last two matches were physically and mentally demanding, even though I won the last one in straight sets; it was intense. I’m really looking forward to another great battle with her.”
In a commanding display on Tuesday night, Sabalenka faced a break point early but rebounded to dominate the match in just 73 minutes, showcasing her prowess. She had previously triumphed over Zheng in the same round at last year’s US Open as well.
Sabalenka’s power was evident, winning almost half of the points on returning Zheng’s serve and converting four out of eight break point opportunities, which contributed to her dominant performance. With a win-loss record of 48-11 (81.4 percent) at hard-court Grand Slam events, Sabalenka holds the best winning percentage among active players on that surface.