China’s Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen delivered a stunning performance at the Italian Open, defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the semifinals, where she will face Coco Gauff. The victory marks Zheng’s first win over Sabalenka in seven career meetings.
Zheng, the eighth seed, seized control early, breaking Sabalenka’s serve to lead 3-2 in the first set before closing it out. She struck again in the opening service game of the second set, paving the way for her triumph. Despite Sabalenka’s resilient holds in the fifth and seventh games, the 22-year-old Zheng stayed composed to secure her first semifinal appearance of the season.
Zheng expressed relief at reaching the semifinals after a challenging year. “It’s been a long time since I’ve reached a semifinal,” she said. “I struggled with my arm earlier this year, but now I’m in perfect shape and focused on playing better tennis.”