Aryna Sabalenka Claims Serena Williams ‘Wasn’t Really More Powerful’ Than Her After Reaching French Open Semifinal
Aryna Sabalenka has advanced to the semifinals of the French Open for just the second time. On Tuesday (June 3), she went past 2024 Paris Olympics champion Qinwen Zheng 7-6(3),6-3, ending her 10-match winning streak.
Sabalenka has now set up a blockbuster semifinal clash with rival Iga Swiatek. While Swiatek has seen ups and downs this season, the Belarusian has so far been the most consistent player on the WTA Tour.
Consistency she lacked when she was a newcomer. Her aggressive style of play helped her hit winners, but also resulted in her committing many unforced errors. But in strength, Sabalenka believes she is the best, that she hasn’t played a player more powerful than her.
Over the years, I evolved my game a lot. I think I’m ready to play against powerful players and whoever is gonna make me run and work for the point. Right now at this point in my career, I don’t really care. But when it comes to the power, I like it. Because then it’s like, ‘ok, you wanna see the power? Let me show you something’.
Aryna Sabalenka said at the press conference
She was then told that 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams too said something similar when she defeated her in the 2021 Australian Open fourth round 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. Williams had reached the semifinal but lost to eventual winner Naomi Osaka in straight sets. When Sabalenka was asked if she considers Williams to be more powerful than her, she said:
I think that she wasn’t really more powerful than me in that match. But physically, she was better than me and she put more balls back on my side than I did. I didn’t really feel like she overpowered me in that game.
Sabalenka has not yet dropped a set in the clay-court Major and only a set (against Zheng) was extended into a tie-breaker. Before Paris, she made it to two finals on clay- in Stuttgart and Madrid, losing the former to Jelena Ostapenko and winning the latter by beating Coco Gauff.
Qinwen Zheng reveals whether Aryna Sabalenka is the most powerful player she has faced
Before arriving in Paris, Qinwen Zheng had knocked Aryna Sabalenka out of the Italian Open, registering her lone win over her. Progressing to the quarterfinal was her best performance at the French Open.