Playing her second consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal, seed No.12 Zheng Qinwen recovered from a set down to defeat Anna Kalinskaya 6-7(4) 6-3 6-1 and book her place in the semifinals of the Australian Open.
The world No.75 Kalinskaya swiftly recovered twice from an early break down in the first set, ultimately securing it in a tiebreak. Zheng’s inconsistent first serve of 49% provided her opponent with an advantage.
Moving into the second set, neither player encountered break points until the score reached 4-3. At this crucial juncture, Zheng seized the opportunity, earning and converting a break point. Subsequently, the Chinese player confidently held her own serve to claim the set, showcasing a notable shift in momentum.
Zheng asserted her dominance in the deciding set, securing two consecutive games at love to establish a commanding 3-1 lead. She maintained her momentum, relentlessly surging through the remaining games without conceding a single one.
This triumph guarantees Zheng a debut in the Top 10 of the WTA rankings. Her upcoming semifinal challenge awaits against qualifier Dayana Yastremska, who emerged victorious against Linda Noskova earlier on Wednesday. It will be their first career meeting. Aryna Sabalenka vs. Coco Gauff is the other women’s singles semifinal pair.
