Zheng Qinwen Aims to Conquer Sabalenka on Clay in Rome

Zheng Qinwen, the Chinese tennis star, has rediscovered her winning form in Rome by maintaining her established routine. She hopes this momentum will help her achieve a different outcome in her upcoming match.

She is set to face Aryna Sabalenka, a three-time major winner and world number one, in a quarterfinal clash at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia. Zheng is aiming for her first victory against the Belarusian in their seventh encounter. She is also seeking to reach the final four of the WTA 1000 tournament for the first time, having previously exited in the quarterfinals twice.

Despite having lost to Sabalenka six times previously, all on hard courts, Zheng is motivated to change the pattern in their first match on clay. She is relying on her newfound confidence on the surface.

Zheng explained her strategy for facing Sabalenka, emphasizing the need to absorb the initial attacks and capitalize on any mistakes. She plans to play solid, consistent defense and attack when opportunities arise. She acknowledges Sabalenka's strong form and consistency, but looks forward to testing her game on clay. She may need to adjust her first serve and employ riskier angles to control the play.

Zheng's aggressive style has sometimes been insufficient against Sabalenka's powerful play. The top seed has broken Zheng's serve 26 times while only conceding six service games in their previous matches. Zheng's recent deep run at the WTA 1000 level was halted by Sabalenka in the Miami Open quarterfinals.

Zheng understands the importance of mental strength, tactical sharpness, and physical readiness in this match. She believes the key will be balancing aggressive play with patience. She aims to manage her emotions and find the right balance on clay, learning from her experience in Madrid where she felt she played too hastily.

Zheng has faced challenges this season due to a right elbow injury. Her performance in Madrid, where she lost to an unseeded player, raised concerns about her prospects for Roland Garros. However, the positive atmosphere in Rome has provided a boost, with three convincing wins, including a victory over Bianca Andreescu.

In her match against Andreescu, Zheng overcame a 5-4 deficit in the first set and ultimately won the match by winning nine of the last ten games. This victory also marked her 20th career win against major winners on the WTA Tour. She attributed her composure and ability to fight back to staying focused and composed.

Zheng also credits her positive experience in Rome to a local restaurant she frequents. She maintains a strict diet but enjoys the local cuisine, particularly the seafood and risotto.