During the 2024 Asian swing, Chinese media humorously referred to Aryna Sabalenka as `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 `mountain` in the Miami Open quarterfinals. Both players secured their spots in the quarterfinals by winning their respective last-16 matches in straight sets. Zheng, seeded No. 9, overcame a late surge from Ashlyn Krueger, winning 6-2, 7-6(3) in 1 hour and 29 minutes. Simultaneously, 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 encounters. Their closest match was in the Wuhan final last year, which Sabalenka won 6-3, 5-7, 6-3. In their other four matches, Sabalenka has consistently won in straight sets, conceding only 20 games in total, including their recent match at the 2024 WTA Finals Riyadh.
Sabalenka maintains perfect record against Collins: Zheng is not the only player Sabalenka has consistently defeated. Collins has now lost all seven of her matches against the World No. 1, managing to win only three sets in total throughout their series.
Collins kept both sets competitive, leveling the score to 3-3 in both sets after initially trailing. She also saved two match points on her serve in the second set. However, Sabalenka maintained control, hitting 23 winners (including seven aces) compared to Collins` 17. Sabalenka also demonstrated greater consistency, committing only 12 unforced errors, while Collins had 30.
`I would say that at the Australian Open my serve wasn`t at its best,` Sabalenka commented. `After the Open, I dedicated significant time to improving my serve. I`m very pleased with my current serving performance, and I believe I served strategically against Danielle. While there were moments when I aimed for maximum power, overall, my serve was smart. I`m happy to see my serve back on track.`
Sabalenka reaches her third Miami quarterfinal. She aims to advance further this time, having previously been defeated by Ashleigh Barty in 2021 and Sorana Cirstea in 2023.
Zheng follows a familiar pattern: Zheng`s victories in Miami this year have shared 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 against Taylor Townsend, she won 6-1, 7-6(3).
Against Krueger, ranked No. 40 in the world, Zheng was equally dominant for the first set and a half, winning seven consecutive games to lead 6-2, 3-0. Her serve was exceptionally effective, while Krueger struggled with forehand errors. However, Krueger found her rhythm, breaking Zheng`s serve in the fifth game of the second set and making the match much closer.
As Krueger`s forehand improved, she created opportunities. At 5-5, a forehand from Krueger, which could have given her a 0-30 lead on Zheng`s serve, went just wide. In the tiebreak, Krueger`s groundstroke errors returned, and a netted forehand gave Zheng the victory on her first match point.
After a slow start to 2025, Zheng has regained momentum with quarterfinal appearances in both Indian Wells and Miami. She will now compete for her first semifinal appearance since the WTA Finals Riyadh.
Jasper Hawthorne 
Dominic Ashworth