Zheng reaches first semifinal in Rome with first win over Sabalenka

Zheng Qinwen earned her first win over World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka on Wednesday in their seventh all-time encounter at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, advancing to the semifinals with a 6-4, 6-3 victory.

Zheng was not only 0-6 against Sabalenka entering their first match on a surface other than hard courts: She was also 0-2 at the quarterfinal hurdle in Rome. But in 1 hour and 37 minutes, she snapped both of those winless marks, saving all five break points that she faced and breaking Sabalenka’s serve three times.

Zheng is the second Chinese woman to reach the semifinals in Rome after Li Na, who was runner-up at the tournament in 2012. She will bid for her second career WTA 1000 final against No. 4 seed Coco Gauff.

Earlier, Coco Gauff kept her cool down the stretch of the second set, navigating a tense tiebreak against Mirra Andreeva to reach her third career semifinal in Rome.

Gauff, who has been scoring upsets and setting precedents for years, is keenly aware of her place in the game, the expectations for greatness. Maybe that’s why she’s been so hard on those emerging young players who might think of challenging her.

Continuing her mastery over 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva, Gauff advanced to the semifinals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia with a 6-4, 7-6 (5) statement victory. It was her fourth win over the rising, already-Top 10 star in four chances. Gauff is now an impressive 11-1 against players younger than she is.

On Thursday, Gauff will play No. 8 Zheng Qinwen, who stopped Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets. The other semifinal pits Jasmine Paolini against Peyton Stearns.