MusaAryna Sabalenka has a memory like a steel trap—and if you hand her a loss, expect her to circle the rematch on the calendar in red ink. Just ask Zheng Qinwen. Less than a month after Zheng handed Sabalenka a painful defeat in Rome, the World No.1 came roaring back under the Parisian sun, powering her way into the French Open semi-finals with a performance that screamed: “Not this time.”
The rematch wasn’t just about a spot in the final four—it was personal. In Rome, Zheng outmaneuvered Sabalenka on clay, raising doubts about the Belarusian’s form on the surface. But in Roland Garros, Sabalenka flipped the script. With a thunderous serve, blistering forehands, and a healthy dose of signature fist pumps, she left no doubt who the alpha on court was.
From the first ball, Sabalenka played with controlled fury—an athlete on a mission not just to win, but to make a statement. She wasn’t just chasing a semi-final berth; she was chasing redemption. Zheng fought valiantly, flashing her own brand of power and precision, but Sabalenka’s sheer force and court command overwhelmed the rising Chinese star.
The win marks yet another milestone in Sabalenka’s season of dominance, and perhaps more importantly, it reasserts her clay-court credentials. For a player often pegged as a hard-court bully, Aryna is rewriting that narrative with every clay-stained victory.
Next up: the semi-finals, where Sabalenka will look to continue her charge toward her first French Open title. And if this performance is any indication, she’s not just in it to win—she’s out for total conquest.
Revenge is a dish best served on red clay, and Sabalenka just delivered it with extra spice.
John Owolabi
Musa
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