© Getty Images Sport – Julian Finney
Coach Pere Riba acknowledged beating Aryna Sabalenka is going to be a very difficult task for Zheng Qinwen but also warned the Belarusian that the 21-year-old Chinese is playing great and feeling well about her Australian Open final chances.
Zheng, seeded at No. 12, will be playing her first Grand Slam final when she takes on defending Australian Open champion Sabalenka on Saturday. On the other side, 25-year-old Sabalenka is set for her third Grand Slam final after winning last year’s Australian Open and finishing as runner-up at the US Open.
Over the last couple of months, Zheng has been on the rise. After winning Zhengzhou and finishing as runner-up at the WTA Elite Trophy, Zheng has now been through to her maiden Slam final and will also be a top-10 player for the first time on Monday.
“It will be a tough match for Qinwen, because Sabalenka is the favorite. But the evolution of Qinwen is … every month she’s better and better and better,” Riba said ahead of the final, via the AAP.
“She (will) arrive with very good feelings, really motivated. If she plays her game, she will have her chances.”
