Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Sabalenka to reach Roland Garros semi-finals

However, while Sabalenka has won six of the seven previous meetings between the pair, it was Zheng who emerged triumphant when they met in the Rome quarter-finals a few weeks ago.

I'm backing Sabalenka to avenge that defeat, but it promises to be a cracking contest. Clay is a great neutraliser in this matchup, as we saw in Rome, but in a slam, I've still got to side with the top seed. Sabalenka hasn't dropped a set on her way to the last eight, including toppling Amanda Anisimova, who had beaten her in five of their seven past encounters. Zheng meanwhile had a big battle in her R16, overcoming Liudmila Samsonova in three sets. Five of Sabalenka's six previous wins over Zheng have been in straight sets, but on clay, I think this goes the distance. I'm backing Sabalenka to win Over 12.5 games and to prevail in three at good value.

As mentioned, Sabalenka leads 6-1, but all six of her wins came on hardcourt. The pair met for the first time on clay in Rome last month, with Zheng recording a 6-4 6-3 victory.

Sabalenka comes into this encounter with a 38-6 record on the season, winning more matches than anyone to further cement her World No. 1 status.

It's been another sensational season for Sabalenka - she's picked up three WTA titles in Brisbane, Stuttgart and Madrid, along with finishing runner-up at the Australian Open and Indian Wells.

It speaks to the high standards Sabalenka has set for herself that she'd probably be disappointed with her year if she failed to secure her first Roland Garros title over the next few days.

After going down to Zheng in the Rome quarter-finals, Sabalenka has regrouped and sailed into the last eight in Paris without dropping a set with victories over Kamilla Rakhimova, Jil Teichmann, and Olga Danilovic before a 7-5 6-3 triumph over Anisimova in the R16.

Zheng comes into this contest with a 17-8 record on the season, recovering from an injury-disrupted start to the year and currently playing some of her best tennis on the dirt.

Indeed, Zheng has won 21 of her last 24 matches on clay dating back to last season, where she picked up the Palermo title before going on to beat Iga Swiatek on her way to securing Olympic Gold in Paris.

All up, Zheng has won her last 10 matches at the Roland Garros site after reaching her maiden French Open quarter-final this tournament.

The Chinese star, who is only the second woman from her country to make the Roland Garros quarter-finals in the Open Era, has dropped just one set on her way to this stage. Zheng defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Emiliana Arango and Victoria Mboko in straights before edging out Samsonova 7-6, 1-6, 6-3 in the fourth round.