Sabalenka, Paolini book Miami semis berths

The world number one Aryna Sabalenka battled back in the second set to blast her way into the semi-finals of the Miami Open with a 6-2, 7-5 win over China’s Zheng Qinwen on Tuesday.

The victory gives Sabalenka her first place in the last four at Miami, with a clash against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini standing between her and a place in the final.

It looked like it was going to be routine business for the Belarussian against the ninth-seed Zheng when Sabalenka took the first set comfortably.

But Zheng had worked something out between sets and came out firing, breaking Sabalenka twice to open up a 4-2 lead in the set.

Sabalenka was in real trouble at 0-40 down but, after some signs of anger, was able to fight back to hold for 4-4 and then turned her aggression into a powerful finale.

Jasmine Paolini in action.

With some blistering returns, the top-seed broke to go 6-5 and then with her serve at full force, confidently held to secure the win.

Earlier, Paolini moved into the semi-finals with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Poland’s Magda Linette.

Paolini, beaten in the finals at Wimbledon and the French Open last year, becomes the first Italian to make it to the last four in Miami.

It took just 77 minutes for Paolini to take care of business against Linette who had progressed into the quarters with a surprise win over Coco Gauff.

A lengthy delay to the start of the game, caused by heavy rain in the afternoon, didn’t cause any issues for the sixth-seeded Paolini who dominated from the off.

Agencies