Sabalenka points out reasons for defeating Zheng Qinwen, attributes it to choosing the right fiancé; top-ranked Chinese player faces significant pressure to defend points during clay season.

After Zheng Qinwen lost to Sabalenka in two sets and exited the singles tournament in the round of 16, the responsibility of carrying the flag for Chinese tennis in Miami once again falls on the Chinese players battling on the doubles court. It remains uncertain how far they can advance with this flag.

Although the "Zheng-Saba showdown" has concluded and the outcome is settled, many still wonder where exactly Zheng Qinwen fell short?

During the post-match interview, Zheng Qinwen reflected on her loss and highlighted two key reasons: first, a lack of recent matches led to a need for improved mental focus and concentration, as these aspects are crucial in important matches—holding one's nerve and persevering can determine victory; second, she did not handle critical points and crucial situations effectively.

In fact, the two reasons disclosed by the top-ranked Chinese player can be summarized simply: she was not at her best! Sabalenka is already a formidable opponent, and challenging the world number one while not in optimal condition naturally led to this result.

So, how did Sabalenka, who defeated Zheng Qinwen, view this match afterward?

The Belarusian player described Zheng Qinwen as a "tough opponent" in her post-match interview and also pointed out her reason for winning: "My serve was much better today."

Sabalenka's ability is widely considered superior to Zheng Qinwen's. If her serve is effective, facing the powerful serves of the Belarusian player, the Chinese top player naturally struggled to cope, making victory unlikely.

According to post-match data, Zheng Qinwen's first-serve success rate was 40%, which is overwhelmingly overshadowed by Sabalenka's 66% first-serve success rate.

Zheng Qinwen also admitted after the match how crucial serving against Sabalenka was: "I felt from the start that none of my serves were landing; playing with second serves made it really difficult, so I was broken early."

However, many fans and netizens noted that Sabalenka's emphasis on her serve in the post-match interview was somewhat reserved and did not fully explain the reasons for her victory.

They believe that besides a strong serve, the world number one also outperformed the Chinese top player in receiving and attacking, among other aspects. Combining all these factors is likely the real reason she ultimately succeeded; relying solely on a good serve would not suffice to win matches consistently.

Many agree with this view because although Zheng Qinwen's serve in the first set was indeed subpar, it noticeably improved in the second set. Particularly after being broken by Sabalenka early, the Chinese player's serve quality quickly recovered, but unfortunately it came too late, and she failed to capitalize on opportunities given by the Belarusian player, leading to a straight-sets loss.

Certainly, Sabalenka indirectly mentioned another reason for defeating Zheng Qinwen: receiving overwhelming support from Brazilian fans at the venue.

The Belarusian player humorously remarked on this point, stating, "This shows I chose the right fiancé," which made her, as a future bride in Brazil, receive enthusiastic support from these fans, giving her a sense of competing at home and extra motivation.

"On the court, I found a better rhythm, especially with my serve." According to Sabalenka, the Brazilian fiancé's fellow countrymen deserve primary credit; their support and cheers fueled her fighting spirit, bringing her closer to another successful title defense.

Although Zheng Qinwen suffered her seventh consecutive loss to Sabalenka on hard court, one post-match aspect garnered praise from many: this time, she did not show a displeased expression but smiled, leading some fans and netizens to comment, "It seems Zheng's mindset has completely changed from before."

After leaving Miami, Zheng Qinwen will officially begin preparations for the clay season. However, the upcoming clay season presents considerable pressure for the Chinese top player to defend her points.

Last year, Zheng Qinwen's performance during the clay season was not particularly outstanding but still decent. Apart from exiting in the second round at the Madrid Masters, she reached at least the quarterfinals in Charleston, Rome, and the French Open, resulting in 938 points to defend: Charleston 108 points, Madrid 10 points, Rome 390 points, and French Open 430 points.

According to Zheng Qinwen's clay season tournament plan, this year she has opted to skip Charleston and participate in the highly competitive Stuttgart instead, while playing Madrid, Rome, and the French Open as usual. Some question this decision: both are 500-level tournaments; voluntarily forfeiting Charleston and the 108 points from last year's quarterfinals—if she performs well in Stuttgart, it might be fine, but an early exit could impose significant ranking pressure. Is this decision truly wise?Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moon River's Starry Sky