Sabalenka Eyes Historic Sunshine Double

Sabalenka (News Central TV) Sabalenka (News Central TV)
Sabalenka eyes historic sunshine double. Credit: NDTV Sports

World number one Aryna Sabalenka moved closer to a rare “Sunshine Double” on Monday after defeating China’s Zheng Qinwen in straight sets to reach the Miami Open quarter-finals.

The defending champion and top seed secured a 6-3, 6-4 victory over the 2024 Olympic gold medallist in just under an hour and a half.

Sabalenka’s dominant performance keeps her on track to become only the sixth woman in history to win both Indian Wells and Miami in the same calendar year.

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The 27-year-old, who recently captured the Indian Wells title by defeating Elena Rybakina, is looking to join an elite group of tennis icons, including Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka, and Iga Swiatek.

Sabalenka (News Central TV)
Sabalenka eyes historic sunshine double. Credit: Tennis Temple

The four-time Grand Slam champion has shown remarkable consistency throughout the tournament, successfully navigating a draw that has seen several other top seeds fall early.

Sabalenka will next face unseeded American Hailey Baptiste in the final eight.

While she enters the match as the heavy favourite, Baptiste has emerged as a surprise contender after dispatching several ranked players earlier in the week.

The upcoming quarter-final will be a crucial step for the world number one as she aims to solidify her legacy with a historic back-to-back sweep of the prestigious spring hard-court tournaments.

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  • Abisoye Adeyiga

    Abisoye Adedoyin Adeyiga holds a PhD in Languages and Media Studies and a Master’s in Education (English Language). Trained in digital marketing and investigative journalism, she is passionate about new media’s transformative power. She enjoys reading, traveling, and meaningful conversations.

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