US Open 2023 quarter final result – Number two seed Aryna Sabalenka too strong for China’s Qinwen Zheng at Flushing Meadows

Sabalenka shrugs off a double fault for 15-30 by reeling off the next three points to serve out in just one hour and 13 minutes.

It’ll be a third US Open semi final on the spin for the Belarusian, who meets Vondrousova or Keys next.

Zheng looks a little lost as Sabalenka chalks up match point and threatens to seal victory for a third game on the bounce.

The Chinese suddenly responds with a wide ace and delivers more clutch serves to get out of dodge, although Sabalenka was left ruing a weak return into the net when attacking a second serve trying to keep the pressure on.

Sabalenka has been supreme on serve all match but suddenly has a real wobble to give Zheng a chance to hit back.

The Chinese makes a poor choice with a drop shot into the net and then snatches at a second serve return.

She even benefits from two out of the blue double faults from the Belarusian, but in the end Aryna holds to 30 with a sizzling backhand up the line edging her through a tricky situation.

‘Come on!’ bellows Sabalenka as an injection of real pace into the rally forces a backhand long from Zheng that coughs up the break.

The World No.23 had started with a third ace of the match but a double fault and a loose forehand suddenly spelt danger, with Sabalenka stamping all over her second serve to secure the breakthrough in Set 2.

It’s a different match now in many ways, but not on the Sabalenka serve. The Belarusian continues to lay down the hammer and clock up the cheap points.

Zheng has very little to bite on as the No.2 seed quickly achieves parity once more.

The Zheng serve is finally firing and so is the forehand. As a result, there’s slim pickings for Sabalenka as the Chinese surges through an excellent hold to 15.

Zheng gives Sabalenka something to think about on her serve for the first time in the match, but the No.2 seed pulls away from 30-30, ending the game with body serve that Zheng can only skew way off court.

Sabalenka sighs, cocks her head to one side and looks slightly frustrated as a forehand miscue allows Zheng to hold to 30 and keep the board ticking over.

Aryna needn’t be too dismayed. Zheng has found an extra gear but that was surely inevitable given how ridiculously easy and one-sided that first set was.

The Chinese hopeful is at least taking the opportunity to step up to her baseline having been forced way beyond it for pretty much all of the opener. She’s also produced more first serves and a maiden ace of the match which at least makes for a more competitive spectacle for the supporters on Ashe.

Sabalenka’s first serve is doing so much of the heavy lifting.

A third ace, a service winner and a serve-plus-one with a difference – a deft touch at the net – help ease her level with aplomb.

That’s more like it!

Qinwen steps around a crosscourt attempt and sizzles an inside-in forehand down the line to suggest she might be able to have more of a say in this contest after all.

Instead, it’s Sabalenka who suddenly can’t find the court, scorching a forehand long and a backhand into the net to help Zheng ease to a hold to 15.

A seventh winner of the contest helps Aryna along as she serves out a 27-minute opener to 15. It’s been far too comfortable for the No.2 seed with Zheng way off the pace. Can the 20-year-old Chinese summon something extra or will this match continue to pass her by in a blur?

Qinwen’s forehand has joined the party! The World No.23 finally manages to unleash a couple of strikes that do some damage before Sabalenka helps her along with a backhand long.

The Chinese then closes her first game to avoid the bagel courtesy of a clever, wide kick serve that Aryna can’t retrieve.

The No.2 seed looks so composed out there as if she’s fully aware that’s she too strong for Zheng.

She’s not being overly aggressive either, which can often give her opponent a cheap point or two.

Instead, the Chinese underdog is feeding on scraps right now as Sabalenka hammers down her first two aces of the match to close out a game to 15.

It’s déjà vu for Qinwen as she miscues a horrible backhand to her right to cough up triple break point.

Once again she finds a big serve to fight off one BP but Aryna swoops into the net to convert on the second with an emphatic smash.

Winning consecutive points is a problem for the Chinese right now, nevermind games!

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On Tuesday the action kicked off with one of the tournament favourites overwhelming a dark horse when Gauff tore apart Ostapenko.

It’s started in similar fashion today with Sabalanka well on top. The Belarusian easily consolidates to love and has yet to drop a point on serve.

Zheng struggles for a first serve early on and ultimately pays the price.

The Chinese clips a tight backhand into the net to cough up triple break point after Sabalenka had thrown down the gauntlet with a belting backhand down the line.

The No.23 seed does find a first serve to help her fend off two but an unfortunate net cord sends a backhand way off court to gift Aryna the break.

Aryna angles a beauty of a backhand up the line to put the lid on a highly efficient love hold to kick off proceedings.

Sabalenka will serve first.

The 20-year-old has the big-hitting weapons to trouble most opponents and was fittingly named WTA Newcomer of the Year in 2022.

'Queenwen' ousted last year's runner-up Ons Jabeur in round four and could become the third Chinese woman to reach the US Open semi finals in the last 10 years, joining Peng Shuai in 2014 and Li Na in 2013.

The reigning US Open champion is targeting a second Grand Slam title to follow up her breakthrough Down Under earlier this year.