Aryna Sabalenka is proving to be an unstoppable force as she powers into the US Open quarterfinals, leaving no stone unturned in her quest for glory. Determined to clinch the title in New York, Sabalenka recently shared a bold desire, which sent a clear warning to her next opponent, Qinwen Zheng.

Sabalenka has said that she is in no mood to leave New York early. After her amazing victory over Elise Mertens, when she was asked about her amazing time at the US Open, Sabalenka stated, “I don’t know. I really enjoy playing here, the crowd is amazing. I really enjoy playing on this big stadiums, feel all the support. I just don’t want to leave early here.”

Sabalenka has etched her name in the history books by becoming the first woman to reach four consecutive US Open quarterfinals since Serena Williams did so in 2016. This remarkable achievement underscores her consistency and prowess on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows. Additionally, Sabalenka has demonstrated impressive form across the Grand Slam circuit, having reached the quarterfinals or better in her last eight appearances.

“You know, I just want to stay as long as I can and enjoy this beautiful Court, beautiful atmosphere and I think that’s why I kind of like consist, consistence; wait consistence here, no consistently here. Yeah, oh my God, it’s not that late but like my brain is not working right now,” the Belarusian further added.

Sabalenka’s desire to stay a little longer in New York is not good news for Qinwen Zheng, who will face her in the quarterfinal. After reaching the US Open semifinals in both 2021 and 2022, world number two had a standout performance in last year’s US Open, where she advanced to the final. However, despite her impressive run, Sabalenka fell short against Coco Gauff, who claimed the title.

While Sabalenka’s consistent presence in the latter stages of Grand Slam tournaments underscores her formidable status in the sport and sets the stage for her continued pursuit of major titles, Zheng is ready to give her all against the Belarusian.

Qinwen Zheng is ‘hungry to play’ in New York

It will be a rematch of the Australian Open 2024 final. In their previous encounter in January, Sabalenka emerged victorious, successfully defending her Australian Open title against Zheng. Now ahead of the semi-final, she said, “I always been telling myself, no, you can’t fall here. You need to keep yourself up. You need to keep fighting. I’m really happy that I have been through all the matches. For me, I work a lot on my mental side to keep myself strong, to keep myself hungry to play because I love to play here in New York.”

The rising Chinese star, Qinwen Zheng, hasn’t won even a set against Aryna Sabalenka yet, having struggled in their previous encounters. But the upcoming showdown promises to be a thrilling contest as both players vie for another chance at Grand Slam glory. Who do you think will prevail? Let us know in the comments below.