Wed Mar 26 01:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Sabalenka and Zheng Set for Miami Showdown: World No. 1 Aims for Sixth Straight Win
**Miami, FL** – Aryna Sabalenka and Zheng Qinwen will clash in the Miami Open quarterfinals, setting the stage for a highly anticipated rematch. The No. 1 seed Sabalenka holds a commanding 5-0 lead in their head-to-head record, a dominance the Chinese media has dubbed an insurmountable “mountain” for Zheng.
Sabalenka powered her way into the quarterfinals with a straight-sets victory over No. 14 seed Danielle Collins (6-4, 6-4), extending her unbeaten streak against the American to seven matches. Despite Collins’ spirited fightback, Sabalenka’s powerful serve (seven aces, 23 winners, and only 12 unforced errors) proved too much to handle. Sabalenka credited recent work on her serve for her improved performance, noting it was a focus following the Australian Open.
Meanwhile, Zheng Qinwen overcame a late surge from Ashlyn Krueger (6-2, 7-6(3)) to secure her place in the last eight. After a dominant first set, Zheng faced a stronger challenge from Krueger in the second, eventually prevailing in a tiebreak. This victory continues a pattern for Zheng in Miami, where she has consistently won the first set convincingly before facing a more difficult second.
This will be Zheng’s sixth attempt to defeat Sabalenka, a challenge that has proven elusive to date. Their previous encounters have seen Sabalenka dominate, with their closest match being a three-set thriller won by Sabalenka in Wuhan last year. For Zheng, a victory would represent a significant breakthrough and propel her towards her first semifinal appearance since the WTA Finals in Riyadh. The quarterfinal match promises a compelling encounter between two of the WTA’s top players.
First Piper 