Sabalenka Beats Zheng to Reach Miami Open Quarters

Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2026 Miami Open on Monday, defeating China's Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-4 in straight sets to extend her unbeaten run through the tournament without dropping a set. The world No. 1, who recently captured the Indian Wells title, now faces American Hailey Baptiste on Wednesday for a spot in the semifinals at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.

Sabalenka, a 27-year-old from Belarus, has dominated the early rounds, also beating Ann Li 7-6(5), 6-4 and Caty McNally 6-4, 6-2. Her victory over Zheng, the 23rd seed and 2024 Olympic champion, took just 85 minutes and marked her ninth consecutive straight-sets win at the Miami Open, matching a streak achieved by Serena Williams between 2002 and 2003. As the defending champion here, Sabalenka enters the match on a nine-match winning streak overall, having avenged an earlier loss to Elena Rybakina by saving a championship point to win Indian Wells earlier this month.

The top seed's strong form follows a painful Australian Open final defeat to Rybakina in January, where Sabalenka squandered a 3-0 lead in the third set of a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 loss. Reflecting on that match after her latest win,...