CHINA’S rising star Zheng Qinwen was stopped in the U.S. Open quarterfinals, losing to world number two Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 6-1, 6-4 Wednesday.

In the women’s doubles, China’s Wang Xinyu, a Shenzhen native, pairing up with Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Su-Wei, advanced into the women’s doubles semifinals, overcoming American third seeds Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-4.

Despite her loss, 20-year-old Zheng has already made a breakthrough in her career by reaching the final eight of a Grand Slam event for the first time, although she revealed that the result did not meet her expectations.

“If you just talk about result, of course it’s not bad for me, but honestly, in my mind I really want to go further,” she told reporters. “But honestly, there is still a lot of room for me to improve, especially she [Sabalenka] makes me think a lot that I have to go back and put some work on my tennis.”

It took Sabalenka just 27 minutes to take the first set where Zheng admitted she needed some time to adapt to the conditions at the main court in Arthur Ashe stadium and the fast style of her opponent.

“Honestly I hate that different half shadow, half sun, because I feel that’s also bad for my eyes. Later when the sun started to move away, there was full shadow on court and I felt my reactions start to quicken,” she said.(Xinhua)