With the major battle ahead, Zheng Qinwen views Sabalenka as a "benchmark for her current form."

This morning, Zheng Qinwen overcame another hurdle on the Miami court, defeating the home favorite Keys to advance to the women's singles quarterfinals. She will face world number one Sabalenka in the fourth round. Returning from injury, Zheng Qinwen declared her form is steadily returning to its peak with a victory of substantial quality.

Zheng Qinwen (Photo: Visual China)

After defeating Keys, Zheng Qinwen reviewed her performance, stating she was initially pressured by her opponent but gradually regained her rhythm as she adapted: "Keys is a very strong opponent; when she's in good form, she can beat anyone. She actually played very well today, especially with her aggressive and fast forehand."

"Actually, when I first stepped onto the court, I felt a bit disoriented because I haven't faced such a fast-paced player for a long time. Later, as I gradually adapted, I played better and became more relaxed."

Zheng Qinwen views this victory pragmatically; for her now, accumulating match experience is most valuable: "For me, winning this match is already very good because only by winning more matches can I play more matches and restore my form to its highest peak. That is the most important thing for me."

Zheng Qinwen's match record against Sabalenka

Next, she will face her longtime opponent Sabalenka. Looking ahead to this matchup, Zheng Qinwen's tone conveys anticipation, and she understands that this encounter with Sabalenka will serve as a recalibration of her current level.

"She is definitely a very strong opponent, one I've always wanted to compete against. Indeed, it has been a long time since we last played. This is my first chance to face her since my return, and I'm looking forward to seeing exactly where my level stands."

With the major battle ahead, Zheng Qinwen maintains a balanced mindset. She recognizes her opponent's formidable strength but also understands that victory depends more on on-the-spot performance. "If my body is healthy, I can beat everyone on the tour, but it all depends on the actual performance. After all, Sabalenka has had a very consistent year, and her performance this year has been outstanding. Defeating such an opponent certainly won't be easy." She stated she is prepared to give her all: "I will ensure I fight for every point, never giving up on any point, because longer match duration actually benefits me. I need more match time to reach my best form."

From exiting in the first round at Indian Wells to consecutively defeating two Grand Slam champions in Miami, Zheng Qinwen admits her match mentality and ability to handle crucial points are improving. Discussing how to adjust mindset under pressure, Zheng Qinwen shared her insight: "Don't give up on any point, no matter how well or poorly you played the previous point, or how outrageous the mistake was—it's just one point. Quickly adjust your focus to the present moment and how to play this point well. That's something I've done effectively."

She reflected on lessons from previous losses: "I summarized that I gradually shifted from about 2-5 to 5-5, then to crucial points, where my mental energy was depleted, somewhat insufficient. After so many matches, I finally feel I can perform better on key points, which is very important. In matches between top players, success or failure often hinges on just a few points, in a fleeting moment." She believes that with more match experience, handling pressure on critical points will become more effortless.

（Text and editing/ Wang Fei）