Aryna Sabalenka, Madison Keys advance to U.S. Open semifinals

No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka advances to her third consecutive U.S. Open semifinal with a dominant victory. She will face Madison Keys next.

In a dominant performance, Aryna Sabalenka, the No. 2 seed, advanced to her third consecutive U.S. Open semifinal with a commanding 6-1, 6-4 victory over Qinwen Zheng, the No. 23 seed from China. The 25-year-old Belarusian has yet to drop a set in Flushing Meadows and did not face a single break point during her 73-minute quarterfinal match.

Sabalenka expressed her satisfaction with her performance, stating, "I think I definitely played great tennis today. Super happy with the performance. I have myself another opportunity to do better in the semis." This win marks Sabalenka's fourth appearance in the semifinals of a Grand Slam event this season, having previously reached the finals of the Australian Open and the semifinals of the French Open and Wimbledon. The last woman to achieve this feat was Serena Williams in 2016.

Sabalenka wasted no time asserting her dominance, winning 22 of the first 27 points to take a commanding 5-0 lead. She capitalized on 3 of 7 break chances, including a crucial break in the second set, to solidify her control over the match. Zheng, a 20-year-old playing in her first major quarterfinal, struggled to find her rhythm and finished with 13 winners and 16 unforced errors.

Looking ahead, Sabalenka will face Madison Keys, the 17th seed from the United States, in the semifinals. Keys, 28, is also no stranger to the U.S. Open semifinals, having reached this stage for the third time in her career. In her only Grand Slam final appearance, Keys fell short to Sloane Stephens in 2017, and she was defeated by eventual champion Naomi Osaka in the 2018 semifinals.

In her quarterfinal match against ninth-seeded Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic, Keys displayed her prowess by winning the first five games of the match to cruise through the first set. Although the second set was more closely contested, Keys demonstrated her resilience by saving four break points and ultimately securing the victory with a crucial service break to go up 5-4. She sealed the win on her third match point.

Keys showcased her strong serving and mental fortitude throughout the match, saving all nine break points she faced and converting all three of her own break opportunities. With both Sabalenka and Keys in top form, their upcoming semifinal clash promises to be an enthralling battle between two talented players vying for a spot in the U.S. Open final.

As the tournament progresses, the anticipation grows for what promises to be an exhilarating semifinal showdown between Sabalenka and Keys. Both players have shown exceptional skill and determination, and their previous successes in Grand Slam events only add to the excitement. Tennis fans can expect a thrilling display of power, finesse, and competitive spirit as these two formidable athletes vie for a chance to lift the U.S. Open trophy.

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