During the 2024 Asian swing, Chinese media humorously referred to Aryna Sabalenka as `the mountain that Zheng Qinwen has yet to overcome,` highlighting Sabalenka`s dominant 5-0 record in their head-to-head matches.
Zheng will have another opportunity to challenge this dominance in the Miami Open quarterfinals. Both players secured their spots in the final eight with straight-set victories in their respective matches. Zheng, seeded No. 9, overcame a late surge from Ashlyn Krueger on Butch Buchholz Court, winning 6-2, 7-6(3) in 1 hour and 29 minutes. Simultaneously on Stadium court, No. 1 seed Sabalenka continued her strong form, ending No. 14 seed Danielle Collins` title defense with a 6-4, 6-4 victory in 1 hour and 18 minutes.
Sabalenka`s consistent success against Zheng is evident in their past encounters. Their closest match was at last year`s Wuhan final, where Sabalenka won a hard-fought match 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 on Zheng`s home ground. In their other four matches, Sabalenka has not conceded a set to Zheng, dropping only 20 games in total, including their most recent meeting at the 2024 WTA Finals in Riyadh.
Head to Head Record
Aryna Sabalenka: 5 Wins
Qinwen Zheng: 0 Wins
Sabalenka`s Dominance Over Collins Continues
Zheng is not the only player struggling against Sabalenka. Collins has now been defeated in all seven of their matches, managing to win only three sets in total throughout their rivalry.
In their Miami match, Collins kept both sets competitive, leveling the score at 3-3 after an early break and saving two match points on her serve in the second set. However, Sabalenka maintained control, hitting 23 winners (including seven aces) compared to Collins` 17. Sabalenka`s impressive accuracy was also shown in her unforced errors, committing only 12, significantly fewer than Collins` 30.
`I would say that at the Australian Open my serve wasn`t at its best,` Sabalenka commented. `After the Open, we focused a lot on improving my serve to regain consistency. I`m very pleased with my serve now, and against Danielle, I believe I served strategically. At times, I aimed for maximum power, but overall, my serving was quite smart. I`m happy to have my serve back in form.`
Sabalenka has now reached her third Miami quarterfinal. She aims to advance further this year, after previous quarterfinal losses to Ashleigh Barty in 2021 and Sorana Cirstea in 2023.
Zheng`s Consistent Miami Wins
Zheng`s path to the Miami quarterfinals has been marked by a recurring pattern: a dominant first set followed by a more challenging second set. In earlier rounds, she defeated Lauren Davis 6-1, 7-5 after leading 6-1, 3-1, and Taylor Townsend 6-1, 7-6(3) after a similar first set.
Against Krueger, ranked No. 40 in the world, Zheng was equally dominant for the first set and a half, winning seven consecutive games to establish a 6-2, 3-0 lead. Her serve was highly effective, while Krueger struggled with forehand errors. However, Krueger found her rhythm, breaking Zheng in the fifth game of the second set, leading to a tighter contest.
Krueger started to capitalize on opportunities as her forehand improved. At 5-5 in the second set, she narrowly missed a shot that would have given her a 0-30 lead on Zheng`s serve. In the tiebreak, errors returned for Krueger, and a forehand into the net gave Zheng the victory on her first match point.
After a slow start to 2025, Zheng has regained momentum with quarterfinal appearances in both Indian Wells and Miami. She now aims to reach her first semifinal since the WTA Finals in Riyadh.
