If Zheng Qinwen is the "Queen," then what level of tennis royalty is Aryna Sabalenka?
17 winners and no break points faced ??
— wta (@WTA) September 6, 2023
Clean sheet from @SabalenkaA ??#USOpen pic.twitter.com/gk9Dlxza6Z
20-year old Zheng may one day reach a slam semifinal (or better), and it's been nearly a decade since a Chinese woman did as much, but she was simply not prepared today when Sabalenka unleashed the power of her shots and serve in their noon-starting QF match-up. Having already met her season's goals (win a slam, reach #1), the Belarusian has the ability to perhaps play with more "freedom" the remainder of this U.S. Open than she has ever known in her tennis career. She'll still likely have to contend with a case of nerves if she seeks to play into the weekend, but against Zheng she surely resembled the almost untouchable version of herself that we saw in January. You remember, the player with the concussive power who seemed to move through the draw like a Great White Shark, answerable to no one and living life on her own terms while scattering all organisms in her path. Sabalenka burst into this match with all guns firing, taking a 5-0 lead en route to a 6-1 1st set win. Zheng's ailing numbers improved in the 2nd set from the 1st, as she doubled her 1st Serve percentage (25% to 50%) and exponentially increased her winners (2 to 11, 4 via ace in the 2nd) and total points (9 to 26), but Sabalenka still took the lead for good with a break for 4-3 and closed out the 6-1/6-4 victory while losing just nine points on serve all day (taking 23/26 on her 1st Serve, and 36/45 overall).
3rd straight US Open semifinal for Aryna Sabalenka! ?? pic.twitter.com/tCIXy4hYuw
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 6, 2023
This (so far) semifinal run is Sabalenka's third straight in New York, and fifth straight in slam play. She's the first player since Serena Williams in 2016 to reach this stage in all four slams in a single season. Sabalenka has actually done so in seven of her last nine slam appearances, and now stands at 7-0 in her slam QF career. Sabalenka is 22-2 in slams this season, but the W/L that more comes into play in her next match is that 1-5 mark in slam semifinals. Her last two losses, to Karolina Muchova at RG and Ons Jabeur at SW19 after having had 3rd set leads, had #1 ranking implications, but her next match will not. Will it make a difference?
CZE: 2014 Marie Bouzkova; Havlickova (2022 RG)
RUS: 2010 Dasha Gavrilova; Korneeva (2023 RG)
GBR: 2009 Heather Watson; Watson (2009 US)
SVK: 2007 Kristina Kucova; Tereza Mihalikova (2015 AO)
JPN: none; Kazuko Sawamatsu (1969 WI)
...in the MX, top-seeded Jessie Pegula & Austin Krajicek won the all-U.S. semi with Taylor Townsend & Ben Shelton, winning a 10-3 MTB. Pegula reached (and lost) the '22 RG doubles final with Coco Gauff in her only other slam final. Krajicek won this year's RG men's doubles with Ivan Dodig. The win salvages Pegula's Open, after falling in the 4th Round in singles *and* earlier today in the doubles QF w/ Gauff (to RG champs Hsieh Su-wei & Wang Xinyu). Meanwhile, Kazakh Anna Danilina advanced to the final alongside Finland's Harri Heliovaara, defeating Ena Shibahara & Mate Pavic in straights. Danilina reached the '22 AO WD final last year with Beatriz Haddad Maia (losing to Krejcikova/Siniakova), and is another of the many former NCAA players (including Shelton) who have performed so well at this Open. She was a member of the University of Florida's title team in 2017. Krajicek played at Texas A&M, winning the 2011 men's doubles title. ...in the night match, #17 Madison Keys was looking to reach her first U.S. Open SF since 2018, knowing that she is one of the few players on tour who can match the off-the-ground power of her would-be next opponent, Sabalenka. #9 Marketa Vondrousova arrived having already put in a good follow-up result to her maiden slam title run earlier this summer at Wimbledon. Having also already had to pull out of doubles (w/ Barbora Strycova) to guard against further injuring her arm and compromising her singles participation, the Czech came into the night knowing that a victory would mean a tough turnaround for her since she wouldn't get a day off and would be back on the court tomorrow night for her semifinal (w/ her arm in whatever condition it'd been left after this QF match). Well, Vondrousova won't have to worry, as Keys opened big and ran away with the 1st set, continuing the pattern from the other QF. Vondrousova kept things on serve until deep into the 2nd, but Keys broke for 5-4 and then served out the 6-1/6-4 win, setting up the power-vs.-power match-up with Sabalenka. Like Sabalenka, it's Keys' third U.S. Open semi, and the sixth of her slam career.
A third semifinal appearance at the #USOpen awaits Madison Keys! pic.twitter.com/aoJsJOxy56
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 7, 2023
#6 Coco Gauff/USA vs. #10 Karolina Muchova/CZE
#17 Madison Keys/USA vs. #2 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR
#16 Dabrowski/Routliffe (CAN/NZL) vs. #8 Hsieh Su-wei/Wang Xinyu (TPE/CHN)
#12 Siegemund/Zvonareva (GER/RUS) vs. Brady/Stefani (USA/BRA)
#1 Pegula/Krajicek (USA/USA) vs. Danilina/Heliovaara (KAZ/FIN)
#1 Diede de Groot/NED vs. Lucy Shuker/GBR
#4 Momoko Ohtani/JPN vs. Kgothatso Montjane/RSA
Aniek Van Koot/NED vs. #3 Jiske Griffioen/NED
Angelica Bernal/COL vs. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
#1 de Groot/Griffioen (NED/NED) def. Bernal/de Greef (COL/NED)
Moreno/Zhu (ARG/CHN) def. Funamizu/Kruger (JPN/GER)
Mathewson/Tanaka (USA/JPN) def. Ohtani/Van Koot (JPN/NED)
#2 Kamiji/Montjane (JPN/RSA) def. Deroulede/Shuker (FRA/GBR)
#1 Renata Jamrichova/SVK def. Nikola Bartunkova/CZE
#11 Anastasiia Gureva/RUS def. (WC) Valerie Glozman/USA
#4 Sara Saito/JPN def. #16 Charo Esquiva Banuls/ESP
#9 Tereza Valentova/CZE def. #7 Kaitlin Quevedo/USA
#10 Laura Samsonva/CZE def. Ela Nala Milic/SLO
Hannah Klugman/GBR def. #3 Sayaka Ishii/JPN
#6 Ena Koike/JPN def. (WC) Aspen Schuman/USA
(WC) Katherine Hui/USA def. Zuzanna Pawlikowska/POL
...PAMMY TRIGGER... ON DAY 10:
Pam Shriver talking to Karolina Muchova after her match last night caused something -- not an original thought, but I'm not sure I've mentioned it before -- to come to mind. She ran off a list of slam-winning Czechs (leaving off the most recent one, but whatever... it's Pammy), and it was of note that all the active slam winners (Kvitova, Krejcikova, Vondrousova) and the most recent one in the hunt (Muchova) have one thing in common -- they've never been ranked #1. The only of the current Czechs to have been #1, Karolina Pliskova, remains slam-less. And now she's (I assume) looking for a regular coach for '24 after parting with Sascha Bajin for a second time. That said, she's still two years younger (at 31) than either Wozniacki or Cirstea, who both had good runs at this Open.
...NO TWO WEARING THE SAME THING (as it should be)... ON DAY 10:
Thursday is set!
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 7, 2023
Who's playing on Saturday? pic.twitter.com/bJvOxkvgIu
Naomi Osaka plans to play more tournaments in her return, including the Australian Open ?? @naomiosaka pic.twitter.com/iUdnkGv0st
— ESPN (@espn) September 6, 2023
7 - ARYNA SABALENKA (7-0)
7 - Iga Swiatek (5-2)
6 - Ons Jabeur (3-3)
6 - Jessie Pegula (0-6)
5 - COCO GAUFF (2-3)
4 - Ash Barty (3-1)
4 - KAROLINA MUCHOVA (3-1)
4 - Elena Rybakina (2-2)
4 - Karolina Pliskova (1-3)
4 - Elina Svitolina (1-3)
3 - Simona Halep (2-1)
3 - MADISON KEYS (2-1)
3 - Barbora Krejcikova (1-2)
3 - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (1-2)
3 - Ajla Tomljanovic (0-3)
*RECENT FIRST-TIME SLAM CHAMPS AND NEXT MAJOR RESULT*
2016 Angelique Kerber (AO): Roland Garros 1st
2016 Garbine Muguruza (WI): Wimbledon 2nd
2017 Alona Ostapenko (RG): Wimbledon QF
2017 Sloane Stephens (US): Australian 1st
2018 Caroline Wozniacki (AO): Roland Garros 4th
2018 Simona Halep (RG): Wimbledon 3rd
2018 Naomi Osaka (US): Australian W
2019 Ash Barty (RG): Wimbledon 4th
2019 Bianca Andreescu (US): DNP 2020; Australian 2nd
2020 Sofia Kenin (AO): U.S. 4th
2020 Iga Swiatek (RG): Australian 4th
2021 Barbora Krejcikova (RG): Wimbledon 4th
2021 Emma Raducanu (US): Australian 2nd
2022 Elena Rybakina (WI): U.S. 1st
2023 Aryna Sabalenka (AO): Roland Garros SF
2023 Marketa Vondrousova (WI): U.S. QF
*LOWEST-SEEDED WOMEN IN US OPEN SF, since 2000*
[not unseeded semifinalists]
#28 - 2020 Jennifer Brady, USA
#28 - 2011 Serena Williams, USA (RU)
#26 - 2015 Flavia Pennetta, ITA (W)
#20 - 2018 Naomi Osaka, JPN (W)
#20 - 2017 CoCo Vandeweghe, USA
#19 - 2018 Anastasija Sevastova, LAT
#19 - 2006 Jelena Jankovic,SRB
#17 - 2023 MADISON KEYS, USA
#17 - 2022 Caroline Garcia, FRA
#17 - 2021 Maria Sakkari, GRE
#17 - 2018 Serena Williams, USA (RU)
#17 - 2014 Ekaterina Makarova, RUS
#15 - 2017 Madison Keys, USA (RU)
#15 - 2019 Bianca Andreescu, CAN (W)
#14 - 2018 Madison Keys, USA
#13 - 2019 Belinda Bencic, SUI
#12 - 2005 Mary Pierce, FRA (RU)
#12 - 2007 Venus Williams, USA
#10 - 2001 Serena Williams, USA (RU)
#10 - 2002 Amelie Mauresmo, FRA
#10 - 2012 Sara Errani, ITA
#10 - 2014 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (RU)
#10 - 2016 Karolina Pliskova, CZE (RU)
#10 - 2020 KAROLINA MUCHOVA, CZE
*AO/US FINALS IN SEASON - OPEN ERA*
[AO/US Jan/Sept events; 1969-76]
1969 Margaret Court (W-W)
1970 Margaret Court (W-W)
1973 Margaret Court (W-W)
1973 Evonne Goolagong (L-L)
1974 Evonne Goolagong (W-L)
1975 Evonne Goolagong (W-L)
1976 Evonne Goolagong Cawley (W-L)
[US/AO Sept/Dec events; 1977-86]
1980 Hana Mandlikova (L-W)
1981 Martina Navratilova (L-W)
1982 Chris Evert-Lloyd (W-W)
1983 Martina Navratilova (W-W)
1984 Chris Evert-Lloyd (L-W)
1985 Martina Navratilova (L-W)
[AO/US Jan/Sept events; 1987-present]
1987 Martina Navratilova (L-W)
1988 Steffi Graf (W-W)
1989 Steffi Graf (W-W)
1990 Steffi Graf (W-L)
1991 Monica Seles (W-W)
1992 Monica Seles (W-W)
1993 Steffi Graf (L-W)
1994 Steffi Graf (W-L)
1994 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (L-W)
1996 Monica Seles (W-L)
1997 Martina Hingis (W-W)
1998 Martina Hingis (W-L)
1999 Martina Hingis (W-L)
2000 Lindsay Davenport (W-L)
2006 Justine Henin-Hardenne (L-L)
2012 Victoria Azarenka (W-L)
2013 Victoria Azarenka (W-L)
2016 Angelique Kerber (W-W)
-
NOTE: Sabalenka won '23 AO title
*RG/US FINALS IN SEASON - since 2000*
2002 Serena Williams, USA (W-W)
2002 Venus Williams, USA (L-L)
2003 Justine Henin, BEL (W-W)
2003 Kim Clijsters, BEL (L-L)
2004 Elena Dementieva, RUS (L-L)
2005 Mary Pierce, FRA (L-L)
2006 Justine Henin, BEL (W-L)
2007 Justine Henin, BEL (W-W)
2013 Serena Williams, USA (W-W)
2022 Iga Swiatek, POL (W-W)
-
NOTE: Muchova in '23 RG final
*TEEN SLAM FINALISTS SINCE 2000*
2000 AO - Martina Hingis, SUI (19)
2001 RG - Kim Clijsters, BEL (18)
2001 WI - Justine Henin, BEL (19)
2001 US - Serena Williams, USA (19)
2003 RG - Kim Clijsters, BEL (19) (19)
2004 WI - Maria Sharapova, RUS (17) - W
2004 US - Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS (19) - W
2006 US - Maria Sharapova, RUS (19) - W
2007 AO - Maria Sharapova, RUS (19)
2009 US - Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (19)
2019 RG - Marketa Vondrousova, CZE (19)
2019 US - Bianca Andreescu, CAN (19) - W
2019 RG - Iga Swiatek, POL (19) - W
2021 US - Leylah Fernandez, CAN (19)
2021 US - Emma Raducanu, GBR (18) - W
2022 RG - Coco Gauff, USA (18)
-
NOTE: Gauff (19) in SF
*RECENT U.S. OPEN "LADY OF THE EVENING" WINNERS*
2016 Madison Keys, USA
2017 "The Late Show starring Madison Keys"
2018 Carla Suarez-Navarro, ESP
2019 Serena Williams, USA
2020 Naomi Osaka, JPN
2021 Maria Sakkari, GRE
2022 "Serena Williams: The End"
2023 Alona Ostapenko, LAT
*RECENT U.S. OPEN WOMEN'S SEMIFINALISTS*
2010 Clijsters (W), Zvonareva (F); V.Williams/Wozniacki
2011 Stosur (W), S.Williams (F); Kerber/Wozniacki
2012 S.Williams (W), Azarenka (F); Errani/Sharapova
2013 S.Williams (W), Azarenka (F); Li/Pennetta
2014 S.Williams (W), Wozniacki (F); Peng/Makarova
2015 Pennetta (W), Vinci (F); Halep/S.Williams
2016 Kerber (W), Ka.Pliskova (F); S.Williams/Wozniacki
2017 Stephens (W), Keys (F); Vandeweghe/V.Williams
2018 Osaka (W), S.Williams (F); Keys/Sevastova
2019 Andreescu (W), S.Williams (F); Bencic/Svitolina
2020 Osaka (W), Azarenka (F); Brady/S.Williams
2021 Raducanu (W), Fernandez (F); Sabalenka/Sakkari
2022 Swiatek (W), Jabeur (F); Sabalenka/Garcia
2023 Gauff vs. Muchova, Sabalenka vs. Keys
[by seed; W=F, SF,SF]
2010 2=7, 1,3
2011 9=28, 1,un
2012 4=1, 3,10
2013 1=2, 5,un
2014 1=10, 17,un
2015 26=un, 1,2
2016 2=10, 1,un
2017 un=15, 9,20
2018 20=17, 14,19
2019 15=8, 13,5
2020 4=un, 28,3
2021 q=un, 17,2
2022 1=5, 6,17
2023...#6 vs. #10, #2 vs. #17
*CAREER SLAM SF - active*
23 - Venus Williams, USA (16-7)
9 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR (6-3)
9 - Simona Halep, ROU (5-4)
8 - Angelique Kerber, GER (4-4)
7 - Petra Kvitova, CZE (3-4)
7 - Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (3-4)
7 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (1-5) *
6 - Madison Keys, USA (1-4) *
5 - Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS (4-1)
5 - Garbine Muguruza, ESP (4-1)
5 - Iga Swiatek, POL (4-1)
4 - Naomi Osaka, JPN (4-0)
4 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (2-2)
4 - Vera Zvonareva, RUS (2-2)
3 - Genie Bouchard, CAN (1-2)
3 - Sara Errani, ITA (1-2)
3 - Ons Jabeur, TUN (3-0)
3 - Karolina Muchova, CZE (1-1) *
3 - Sloane Stephens, USA (2-1)
3 - Elina Svitolina, UKR (0-3)
2 - Jennifer Brady, USA (1-1)
2 - Danielle Collins, USA (1-1)
2 - Coco Gauff, USA (1-0) *
2 - Sofia Kenin, USA (2-0)
2 - Sabine Lisicki, GER (1-1)
2 - Alona Ostapenko, LAT (1-1)
2 - Elena Rybakina, KAZ (2-0)
2 - Maria Sakkari, GRE (0-2)
2 - CoCo Vandeweghe, USA (0-2)
2 - Marketa Vondrousova, CZE (2-0)
--
*-to play SF
[SLAM SF 2020-23]
7 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (1-5) *
5 - Iga Swiatek, POL (4-1)
3 - Ash Barty, AUS (2-1)
3 - Karolina Muchova, CZE (1-1) *
3 - Ons Jabeur, TUN (3-0)
2 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR (1-1)
2 - Jennifer Brady, USA (1-1)
2 - Coco Gauff, USA (1-0) *
2 - Simona Halep, ROU (0-2)
2 - Sofia Kenin, USA (2-0)
2 - Madison Keys, USA (0-1) *
2 - Naomi Osaka, JPN (2-0)
2 - Elena Rybakina, KAZ (2-0)
2 - Maria Sakkari, GRE (0-2)
2 - Serena Williams, USA (0-2)
1 - Danielle Collins, USA (1-0)
1 - Leylah Fernandez, CAN (1-0)
1 - Caroline Garcia, FRA (0-1)
1 - Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA (0-1)
1 - Dasha Kasatkina, RUS (0-1)
1 - Angelique Kerber, GER (0-1)
1 - Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (1-0)
1 - Martina Trevisan, ITA (0-1)
1 - Petra Kvitova, CZE (0-1)
1 - Magda Linette, POL (0-1)
1 - Tatjana Maria, GER (0-1)
1 - Garbina Muguruza, ESP (1-0)
1 - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS (1-0)
1 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (1-0)
1 - Nadia Podoroska, ARG (0-1)
1 - Emma Raducanu, GBR (1-0)
1 - Elina Svitolina, UKR (0-1)
1 - Marketa Vondrousova, CZE (1-0)
1 - Tamara Zidansek, SLO (0-1)
--
*-to play SF
[2023 SLAM SF BY NATION]
5 - BLR (1-3) - Sabalenka
3 - CZE (2-0) - Muchova
2 - POL (1-1)
2 - USA (0-0) - Gauff,Keys
1 - KAZ (1-0)
1 - TUN (1-0)
1 - UKR (0-1)
1 - BRA (0-1)
[SLAM SF BY NATION 2020-23 / 15 slams]
11 - USA (5-4)**
9 - BLR (2-6)*
7 - CZE (4-2)*
6 - POL (4-2)
3 - AUS (2-1)
3 - TUN (3-0)
2 - GER (0-2)
2 - GRE (0-2)
2 - JPN (2-0)
2 - KAZ (2-0)
2 - ROU (0-2)
2 - RUS (1-1)
1 (W) - CAN,GBR,ESP
1 (L) - ARG,BRA,FRA,SLO,ITA,UKR
[2023 US SEMIFINALISTS - career US SF]
3 - Madison Keys
3 - Aryna Sabalenka
1 - Coco Gauff
1 - Karolina Muchova
[2023 US SEMIFINALISTS - consecutive Slam SF]
5 - Aryna Sabalenka
[2023 US SEMIFINALISTS - career US W/L]
31-11...Keys
20-5...Sabalenka
12-4...Gauff
12-5...Muchova
[2023 US SEMIFINALISTS - career Slam W/L]
102-41...Keys
58-21...Sabalenka
42-16...Gauff
38-18...Muchova
[2023 US SEMIFINALISTS - 2023 Slam W/L]
22-2...Sabalenka
12-3...Gauff
12-3...Keys
12-3...Muchova
Walnuts are contained inside a central stone that is surrounded by lime coloured outer coverings called husks or hulls
— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) September 5, 2023
pic.twitter.com/VW1hRbURUK
The way this dog reacts to a random rhino casually walking down the street
— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) September 5, 2023
pic.twitter.com/8k1bpeuORh
This terrifying body cam footage captured Spokane County Deputy Sheriff narrowly escaping a wildfire in Washington State
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) September 6, 2023
[?? Spokane County Sheriff's Office]pic.twitter.com/QfL49Vh1hx
Essence of defiancepic.twitter.com/5nu74mosgo
— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) September 5, 2023
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #6 Coco Gauff/USA
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #2 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q2 - Elsa Jacquemot/FRA def. #2 Diana Shnaider/RUS 6-7(5)/7-5/6-3 - down 7-6/5-3, saved 7 MP in 2nd set (trailed 5-4, 40/love)
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 1st Rd. - #32 Elise Mertens/BEL def. Mirjam Bjorklund/SWE 3-6/6-3/7-6(10-3) - down 3 MP at 4-5, love/40 in 3rd, won 4 con. pts to hold; wins TB 10-3
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 4th Rd. - #20 Alona Ostapenko/LAT def. #1 Iga Swiatek/POL 3-6/6-3/6-1 (improves to 4-0 in head-to-head; Sabalenka replaces Swiatek as singles #1)
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F): xx
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: #10 Karolina Muchova/CZE (def. WC Hunter)
FIRST SEED OUT: #8 Maria Sakkari/GRE (1r- lost to Masarova/ESP)
FIRST CAREER SLAM MD WINS: Eva Lys/GER, Lily Miyazaki/GBR
PROTECTED RANKING MD WINS: Jennifer Brady/USA (3rd Rd.); Dasha Saville/AUS (2nd Rd.), Patricia Maria Tig/ROU (2nd Rd.)
LUCKY LOSER MD WINS: Yanina Wickmayer/BEL (2nd Rd.)
UPSET QUEENS: United States
REVELATION LADIES: China
NATION OF POOR SOULS: France (1-6 in 1st; 9 of FRA Top 10 out Q/1r)
CRASH & BURN: #8 Maria Sakkari/GRE (3 consecutive slam 1st Rd. losses)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF NEW YORK: #32 Elise Mertens/BEL (5 MP saved 1r/2r; 4-5, love/40 in 3rd vs. Bjorklund/SWE 1r; 2 MP 2nd set TB vs. Collins/USA 2r)
IT ("??"): Nominee: Zheng Q.
Ms.OPPORTUNITY: Nominees: Gauff, Muchova, Keys, Sabalenka
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Kaja Juvan/SLO, Greet Minnen/BEL (3rd Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Caroline Wozniacki/DEN (4r)
LAST BANNERETTE STANDING: In SF: Gauff, Keys
COMEBACK: Caroline Wozniacki/DEN
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Sorana Cirstea/ROU
DOUBLES STAR: x
BIG APPLE BANNERETTE BREAKTHROUGH: Peyton Stearns/USA
BROADWAY-BOUND: "Jabeurwocky"
LADY OF THE EVENING: Alona Ostapenko/LAT
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: x
