During the 2024 Asian swing, Chinese media playfully called Aryna Sabalenka `the mountain that Zheng Qinwen has yet to overcome,` highlighting Sabalenka`s dominant 5-0 head-to-head record against Zheng.
Zheng will have another opportunity to conquer this challenge in the Miami Open quarterfinals. Both players secured their spots by winning their last-16 matches in straight sets. Zheng, the No. 9 seed, 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, top-seeded Sabalenka continued her strong performance, ending No. 14 seed Danielle Collins` title defense with a 6-4, 6-4 victory in 1 hour and 18 minutes.
Sabalenka`s dominance over Zheng is evident in their past match scores. Their closest encounter was in last year`s Wuhan final, Zheng`s home ground, where Sabalenka won a tight 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 match. In their other four matches, Sabalenka has consistently won in straight sets, dropping only 20 games, including their most recent match at the 2024 WTA Finals Riyadh.
Sabalenka maintains perfect record against Collins: Zheng is not the only player on the WTA Tour struggling against Sabalenka. Collins has now lost all seven of their matches, winning only three sets in total.
Collins kept both sets competitive, leveling the score to 3-3 after an early break in each set and saving two match points on her serve in the second set. However, Sabalenka remained in control, hitting 23 winners (including seven aces) compared to Collins` 17. Sabalenka also had a cleaner game with only 12 unforced errors, while Collins made 30.
`I think at the Australian Open my serve wasn`t at its best,` Sabalenka mentioned. `After the Open, I focused on improving my serve to regain consistency. I`m very pleased with my current serve, and I believe I served strategically against Danielle. At times, I went for power serves, but overall, I think my serving was smart. I`m happy to have my serve back on track.`
Sabalenka advances to her third Miami quarterfinal. She has yet to advance further, having lost in previous quarterfinals to Ashleigh Barty in 2021 and Sorana Cirstea in 2023.
Zheng follows a familiar pattern: Zheng`s victories in Miami this year have followed a similar pattern: a dominant first set followed by a more challenging second set. In the second round, she defeated Lauren Davis 6-1, 7-5 after leading 6-1, 3-1. In the third round, she overcame qualifier Taylor Townsend 6-1, 7-6(3).
Against Krueger, ranked No. 40 globally, Zheng was dominant for the first set and a half, winning seven consecutive games to lead 6-2, 3-0. Her serve was nearly unbreakable, while Krueger struggled with forehand errors. However, Krueger found her footing, breaking Zheng`s serve with strong returns in the fifth game of the second set, making the match more competitive.
As Krueger`s forehand improved, she created opportunities. At 5-5, a forehand that could have given her a 0-30 lead on Zheng`s serve went just wide. In the tiebreak, errors returned, and a netted forehand from Krueger sealed Zheng`s victory on her first match point.
After a slow start to 2025, Zheng has regained momentum with quarterfinal appearances in Indian Wells and Miami. She now aims to reach her first semifinal since the WTA Finals Riyadh.
