*** Sabalenka and Paolini into Miami semi-finals | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Sabalenka and Paolini into Miami semi-finals

AFP | Miami

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

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.

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 TuesdayThe 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.

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