Aryna Sabalenka says what she thinks about facing Qinwen Zheng ahead of the China Open starting

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Aryna Sabalenka is relishing the prospect of facing Qinwen Zheng at the China Open.

The Belarusian is in red-hot form after winning her last two events: the Cincinnati Masters and the US Open.

The 26-year-old has arrived in Beijing as the favourite for the title. Furthermore, Sabalenka is hunting down the World number one ranking spot.

But Sabalenka may have to get through Zheng, who is the Olympic champion and will be playing in front of her home fans in the Chinese capital.

What did Aryna Sabalenka say about potentially facing Qinwen Zheng at the China Open?

Aryna Sabalenka has dropped just one set over the course of her last two tournaments as she made an emphatic return from injury.

The World number two could face Zheng in the China Open quarter-finals, and the 21-year-old is determined to win the title on home soil.

But she will likely have to defeat Sabalenka, who is playing some inspired tennis, in the last eight, and should it come to fruition, the three-time Grand Slam champion is ready for the challenge.

“We had two really great matches this season. It’s always tough. It’s always tough facing her. Would be so cool to play against her here,” Sabalenka told reporters before her China Open campaign begins.

“Even though I know the crowd is going to be on her side, I believe I kind of know how to deal with the crowd being against me. Yeah, it will be cool to face her one more time.”

What is Aryna Sabalenka’s head-to-head record against Qinwen Zheng?

Sabalenka has faced Zheng on three occasions and each meeting has taken place at a Grand Slam. The Australian Open winner has also won each match in straight sets.

Their first meeting first came at the 2023 US Open in the quarter-finals, and Sabalenka claimed a 6-1, 6-4 victory.

They met once again in the final at Melbourne Park in January, where Sabalenka successfully defended the Australian Open with the loss of just five games.

A year on from their first meeting Sabalenka and Zheng met in the US Open quarter-finals once again, and the result was even more one-sided as the former World number one swept aside her opponent 6-1, 6-2 on the way to winning the title.