Sabalenka Defeats Zheng, Reaches Miami Quarterfinals – 15th Straight WTA Last 8

Aryna Sabalenka advanced to her 15th consecutive WTA quarterfinal on Sunday, defeating Zheng Qinwen 6-4, 6-2 at the Miami Open. The World No. 1’s victory came after a dominant performance, securing her place in the final eight and continuing a streak that began at the 2024 Australian Open.

The match, played at Hard Rock Stadium, saw Sabalenka pull away from Zheng in the latter stages of both sets, winning 10 of the last 12 games. She finished with 29 winners, according to match statistics. Zheng, who is returning to form after elbow surgery last year, had previously broken a six-match losing streak against Sabalenka with a win in Rome last May, but was unable to replicate that success in Miami.

Zheng’s comeback to the WTA Tour has been marked by her first Top 20 win since Roland Garros last spring, a victory over Madison Keys in the previous round. That win, a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 contest, was particularly significant as it demonstrated her improved form following a major elbow injury that required surgery. However, Sabalenka proved too strong on Sunday.

The Belarusian is aiming for a second straight Miami title and the Sunshine Double, having already claimed victory at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Sabalenka previously defeated Caty McNally 6-4, 6-2 in the third round and Ann Li 7-6(5), 6-4 prior to that.

The head-to-head record between Sabalenka and Zheng now stands at 7-1 in favor of Sabalenka, with five of those victories coming on hard courts. Their previous encounter, a quarterfinal match at the French Open in 2025, saw Sabalenka win 7-6(3), 6-3.

According to initial odds, Sabalenka was favored to win the match, with odds of 1.128 compared to Zheng’s 5.95. The match was scheduled for Monday, March 23rd, at 3:30 pm on Stadium court.