Aryna Sabalenka comfortably defeated Caty McNally on Sunday evening, securing her place in the Miami Open fourth round.
Sabalenka completed a 6-4, 6-2 victory over her American opponent and will now face 2024 Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng in the Miami Open fourth round.
Sabalenka has a dominant record against the young Chinese star, winning seven of her eight matches against her on the WTA Tour.
Is Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina the best rivalry in women’s tennis right now?
If not, who is?
However, Sabalenka has made clear that she is not underestimating Zheng heading into their match on Monday.
Aryna Sabalenka says Qinwen Zheng is an ‘incredible player’
Speaking to the WTA Tour after the match, Sabalenka said of her match with Zheng: “I’ll focus on myself. I’ll focus on my game. I’ll try to stay focused from the first point ’til the last.
“She’s an incredible player. We played a lot of matches. I have a good record against her but it doesn’t say anything. It’s always tough battles.
“I’m always looking forward to playing her. It’s always a fight and I really enjoy it.”
Later in her press conference, Sabalenka again spoke of her upcoming clash with Zheng, while also noting that she is finding her footing on the Tour once again.
“I’m focusing on recovery after each match,” Sabalenka said, as per Punto de Break.
“Your body needs it after a few weeks without competing, so it’s helping me get back into my competitive rhythm. Now I’m facing Qinwen [Zheng], who is always a great challenge on the court, regardless of our head-to-head record.
Aryna Sabalenka or Iga Swiatek… who do you prefer? 🤔
“Whenever we play, it’s a great battle, a great show; they’re usually entertaining matches for the fans. We actually played each other here in Miami last year, so I’m glad to have her back on the tour.”
Sabalenka has dominated her matchup with Zheng in the past, winning seven of their eight matches.
Zheng’s sole victory against the Belarusian came at the 2025 Italian Open, where she won 6-4, 6-3.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng…
| Tournament | Winner | Score |
| US Open 2023 | Sabalenka | 6–1, 6–4 |
| Australian Open 2024 | Sabalenka | 6–3, 6–2 |
| US Open 2024 | Sabalenka | 6–1, 6–2 |
| Wuhan Open 2024 | Sabalenka | 6–3, 5–7, 6–3 |
| WTA Finals 2024 | Sabalenka | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Miami Open 2025 | Sabalenka | 6–2, 7–5 |
| Italian Open 2025 | Zheng | 6–4, 6–3 |
| French Open 2025 | Sabalenka | 7–6(3), 6–3 |
Aryna Sabalenka discusses her improved net game
Aryna Sabalenka introduced doubles specialist Max Mirnyi into her coaching setup last year, and it appears his influence – and her hard work – has paid off.
The Belarusian has undoubtedly improved her net game at the start of 2026, and she seems to be gaining more and more confidence with every passing match.
Sabalenka discussed this aspect of her game after beating McNally.
She said: “I’m feeling more and more comfortable at the net, and I’m finding it really fun, although it’s true that today I wasn’t the best player when it came to hitting those tricky shots near the net.
“It’s fun when you try to vary your game a bit more, although it’s not always easy. Next time I’ll try to mix things up more intelligently and see how it goes.”
