Aryna Sabalenka and Zheng Qinwen are set to resume their rivalry in the Round of 16 at the Miami Open after both won their third-round matches at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday.
World No. 1 Sabalenka pulled away from American Caty McNally, winning 10 of the last 12 games in her 6-4, 6-2 triumph. Zheng Qinwen secured a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 comeback victory over No. 15 seed Madison Keys.
Zheng’s Comeback Against Keys
Zheng confessed that she struggled with the pace of Keys’ shots early in their match. She said, “The ball was just like a bomb for me at the beginning. I couldn’t react. I haven’t had this speed of match in a long time.”
Zheng found herself trailing 0-40 on serve with Keys leading 6-4, 1-0.
The 2024 Olympic gold medalist recovered and ended the match with 31 winners, doubling Keys’ 15. Twenty-three of Zheng’s winners came in the second and third sets.
- Zheng did not have a break point in the first set.
- She created 13 break points in the next two sets, winning four.
- Zheng saved 10 of 11 break points she faced in that span, including all nine in the second set.
Sabalenka’s Victory Over McNally
The start of Sabalenka’s match against McNally was similar to her prior round against Ann Li. Against McNally, she lost a 4-2 lead.
Sabalenka said the ninth game was crucial. She needed six deuces to hold serve and broke McNally for a third time to wrap up the set. She then won four straight games from 2-2 in the second set.
Looking Ahead to the Round of 16
The win over Keys was a notable one for Zheng, who is rounding into form after returning to the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz following elbow surgery last year. It marked her first triumph over a Top 20 player in the PIF WTA Rankings since Roland Garros last spring.
Zheng secured her first win against Sabalenka in Rome last May after dropping her first six matches against her. She’ll hope to end Sabalenka’s bid for a second straight Miami title, as well as her hope of completing the Sunshine Double.
Zheng and Sabalenka will face off for a ninth time. Zheng seeks her second win in their last three matches.