World Number Two, Aryna Sabalenka Reaches US Open Semi-finals

Second seed Aryna Sabalenka reached the US Open semi-finals for the third successive year with a dominant win over Chinese 23rd seed Zheng Qinwen.

Sabalenka, who learned earlier this week she will be the new world number one after the tournament, won 6-1 6-4.

The 25-year-old from Belarus has never gone on to play in the New York final.

Sabalenka will now face 2017 runner-up Madison Keys after the American beat Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 6-1 6-4.

“I think I definitely played great tennis today and I’m super happy to win, she has played great tennis at the US Open,” said Sabalenka, whose previous semi-final defeats came against Canada’s Leylah Fernandez and Poland’s Iga Swiatek.

“Now I have the opportunity to do better in the semis.

“I have learned [since the previous semi-finals] that I am ready to play these rallies and stay in the game and the point now. “I also focused on my physical abilities and am getting less tired on court. I am ready to play wherever I need to play now.”