Zheng Qinwen ends French Open campaign with seventh loss to Sabalenka

Eighth-seeded Zheng Qinwen of China was knocked out by top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 7-6(3), 6-3 in the women's singles quarterfinals at the French Open at Roland-Garros in Paris on Tuesday.

After ending a six-match losing streak against Sabalenka in Rome last month, Zheng played with aggression from the outset, and broke the World No. 1 first in the third game to take a 3-1 lead. As the competition continued, however, the 22-year-old committed a number of key mistakes, including a double fault in the eighth game, en route to conceding a break.

After falling behind 6-5 in the opener, Zheng saved set point in the 12th game, holding serve and sending the frame into a tiebreaker. She jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the extra session, but Sabalenka rallied to prevail 7-3, grabbing a 1-0 overall lead in the match.

Sabalenka maintained her momentum in the second set, breaking Zheng in the fifth and seventh games, on her way to sealing the deal 6-3.

"That was a true battle, and honestly I have no idea how I was able to break her back, and get back in the first set," Sabalenka said. "I was just trying to fight, and put as many balls as I could back, because I didn't start well. I am really glad that I found my rhythm and won this match."

"I think my game plan went quite well, but it's just, you know, I get tight," Zheng said. "Then I give so many easy mistake after when I'm leading in the first set. And that's it, because I think my game plan is working quite well. It's just I'm not able today to stick on to do it, my game plan, from the beginning until the end, because I just think sometimes I give her so many easy unforced errors, yeah."

In her second semifinal appearance in three years at Roland-Garros, Sabalenka will face Poland's defending champion Iga Swiatek, who defeated Elina Svitolina of Ukraine 6-1, 7-5 in the last eight.

Swiatek took total control at the start, but had to work harder in the second set, dropping her serve in the fourth game after finding the net twice for back-to-back unforced errors.

The four-time French Open champion broke back immediately, however, taking advantage of Svitolina's poor service game to break again with a thunderous forehand return to move in front 6-5. She then closed out the win with an ace.

"The Madrid final against her is one of the best and most exciting finals that I have played," said Swiatek, who has not won a title or reached a final since her victory at Roland-Garros last year. "It is always a challenge against Aryna."

(With input from The Associated Press)