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Aryna Sabalenka showed why she is a favorite to win this year's US Open after putting in a dominant performance against Zheng Qinwen on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals.
The World No. 2 quickly overcame the 20-year-old Chinese youngster, winning 6-1, 6-4 inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Zheng was no match for Sabalenka's great serve and powerful shots, as the Belarusian comfortably placed among the final four of the US Open.
After some high-profile early exits, Sabalenka is the highest seed left in the draw and looks like the player to beat.
“I think I definitely played great tennis today,” Sabalenka said in her on-court interview. “Super happy with the performance. I have another chance to do better in the semifinals.”
She will face Wimbledon champion Markéta Vondroušová or American Madison Keys for a place in the final.
Iga Świątek's early exit from the US Open means that whatever happens, Sabalenka will become world No. 1 for the first time on Monday.
Her rise to the top of the world rankings comes after an extraordinary year in which she won three titles, including her first Grand Slam at the Australian Open.
He continued that dominant form against Zheng in the quarterfinals, defeating his opponent in a first set that lasted just 27 minutes.
The break between sets allowed Zheng to regroup and he began to grow in the match. The youngster held her own against Sabalenka as the pair exchanged service games at the start of the second set.
That was until the seventh game of the set, when Sabalenka was able to break Zheng's resistance to take the lead with a vital break on serve.
No matter how hard she tried, Zheng couldn't hit back and the Belarusian took the match with ease.
It will be the third consecutive US Open semi-final for Sabalenka as she aims for a second Grand Slam title in 2023.
Sabalenka, who is in her fifth consecutive Grand Slam semifinal, has won the first seven major quarterfinals of her career, second on the all-time list behind Chris Evert, who, surprisingly, won his first 48.
