World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka recovered from a slow start and systematically demolished Paris Olympic champion Jeong Jin-en in a 7-6 (3), 6-3 victory, which brought her to the French Open semi-finals.
Sabalenka lost Zheng's defeat for the first time in seven career meetings in Rome's quarterfinals last month, with the Belarusian trailing in the opening ceremony of Philippe-Chatrier who had a half free throw earlier on Tuesday.
Sabalenka said: "It's a real fight and I don't know how I could get her back and go back to the first set. I'm not good, glad I found the rhythm and won.
"I think we're all for one reason. Everyone wants that beautiful trophy. I'm glad I have another chance, another semifinal is better than last time.
“I really hope that by the end of the clay court season, I’m really proud of myself.”
China's Zheng bid to mimic Compatriot Li Na's 2011 victory at Roland Garros, defeating a strong forehand champion to lead 2-1, but Sabalenka transferred the fifth level on the gears and later won the fifth level and rejected a fixed point with a score of 6-5.
The 27-year-old top seed shrugged and glided in disappointment in the tiebreak, mistakenly entering the eighth seed Zheng’s game before the player swapped the breakout in the second set of high octane.
A huge forehand champion defeated Sabalenka 5-3, while the three-time Grand Slam champion never looked back when he finished the game.
Swiatek is still on the route of four consecutive championships
In the later quarterfinals, Poland's French Open champion Iga Swiatek swept Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, defeating 6-1 7-5 to steal a record victory in Paris.
The 24-year-old, who was under a month's ban on stimulants late last year, hopes to be the first woman in his career era to win four consecutive titles in Paris since 1968.
Although she failed to win the French Open title this season, she hopes to rediscover her excellent clay court form at Roland Garros.
Next, she will play Sabalenka in the coveted semifinals.
"I should have better intensity at the beginning of the second set," Swiatek said in a post-match interview. "I got height again when I saw myself getting lower. I was glad to do it at the end of the scene.
"It's always a challenge against Aryna (Sabalenka). She has a game for every surface. I have to do the job, shoot bravely and keep going. Her season is great."
"I won't lie. It's going to be a tough game, but I'm happy with the challenge," she said.
Pole position now has a 26-game winning streak at the French Open after her 2020 championship added to her 2020 title after a three-game winning streak between 2022-24.
