World number one Aryna Sabalenka will face three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek in a blockbuster French Open semi-final between two title contenders.
Sabalenka edged a tight quarter-final against China’s Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 on a blustery Court Phillippe Chatrier on Tuesday.
Poland’s Swiatek then came through 6-1 7-5 against Elina Svitolina to set up a fascinating last-four encounter.
Belarusian Sabalenka replaced fifth-ranked Swiatek as world number one in October last year.
The pair have met 12 times, with Swiatek leading the head-to-head 8-4 – but they have not met at a major since the 2022 US Open semi-finals.
Swiatek has won four of the past five Roland Garros titles, while Sabalenka is bidding for her first Paris trophy.
“Aryna has a game for every surface, so I need to focus on myself, do the work, be brave in my shots and just go for it,” Swiatek said.
“It is going to be a tough match, but I’m happy for the challenge.”
For all that Swiatek has dominated the French Open in recent years, Sabalenka is the player to beat this time around.
She has won three titles this year – including one on the Madrid clay – and reached two further finals, as well as strengthening her grip on the top ranking.
But her three-set defeat by Madison Keys in the Australian Open final stung – and she looks on a mission to avenge that loss.
Zheng had cause for optimism. She snapped a six-match losing streak to Sabalenka on the Rome clay in May and ultimately started the better of the two.
However, the mistakes were the difference, with Zheng committing 31 unforced errors to Sabalenka’s 18 and winning just 39% of points behind her second serve.
Sabalenka was visibly unimpressed with the wind, her game and finding herself down an early break in the first set, but she generated enough rhythm to break back for 4-4.
The top seed dominated the eventual tie-break, taking it on a long whipped forehand from Zheng, and repeatedly battled back from 0-30 down in her service games to keep the second set close.
The pair exchanged breaks before Zheng played her worst game of the match to hurry Sabalenka along to a 4-3 lead.
Sabalenka’s quality then shone through as, with Zheng 40-0 up and serving to stay in the match, she hammered winners past her opponent to seal the match as quickly as possible.
“That was a true battle – I have no idea how I was able to get back into that first set,” Sabalenka said.
“I was ready to leave everything I have on court to win.”
