Reliable Sabalenka cruises past Zheng to reach US Open semi-final

• Belarusian brushes aside Olympic champion 6-1, 6-2
• Sabalenka into fourth straight semi at Flushing Meadows

When Aryna Sabalenka first emerged on the professional tennis circuit, it would have been a profound understatement to describe her as inconsistent. She was raw and incredibly volatile, blessed with so much power that she could only occasionally control. At times, Sabalenka seemed as likely to hit the back fence as she was to successfully outhit an opponent.

The Belarusian's evolution in recent years has been remarkable and she has gradually become one the most reliable performers at the biggest tournaments in the world. She continued to show her consistency late on Wednesday in New York by making a mockery of one of the most highly-anticipated matches of the tournament so far, bulldozing the Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen 6-1, 6-2 to return to the semi-finals of the US Open.