By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Olympic gold-medal champion Zheng Qinwen beat No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka for the first time, 6-4, 6-3, to set up a Rome semifinal vs. Coco Gauff.
Photo credit: Internazionali BNL d'Italia Facebook
Sailing another forehand, Aryna Sabalenka kicked at the dirt in frustration like a woman admonishing a dance partner for stepping on her toes.
Playing on point under pressure, Zheng Qinwen choreographed a classic upset.
In a rematch of the 2024 Australian Open final, Zheng saved all five break points she faced, stunning world No. 1 Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3 to power into the Rome semifinals.
"Of course, I feel really happy because during all this time I'm trying to beat her on court," Zheng told the media in Rome. "Sometimes I'm really close, but it's just I never make it before.
"This is the first time we play on clay. I guess when I play on clay, I'm more comfortable because I got great experience on clay.
"Doing well tonight because more patient than her. I see today that when I make her play a lot... I'm just happy with my performance and happy to make the step forward to beat the world No. 1."
Bidding to become the first woman to reach semifinals at Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Rome in the same season, Sabalenka has been the gold standard this season.
The Olympic gold-medal champion was simply too strong for the Madrid champion in their first clay-court clash.
The eighth-seeded Zheng will play fourth-seeded Coco Gauff for a spot in the final.
WTA Finals champion Gauff defeated Indian Wells champion Mirra Andreeva 6-4, 7-6(5)—her fourth win over the 18-year-old Russian in as many meetings. Gauff has won both prior meetings against Zheng, including a 7-6(4), 6-1victory in Rome last May.
Winless in six prior meetings vs. Sabalenka, Zheng repeatedly whipped wide serves to open the court and launched bold bolts down the line to force the top seed to counter on the run.
Though she served just 52 percent when Zheng made the first serve she barely lost points. Zheng won 26 of 32 first-serve points and out-aced the Belarusian (4 to 0) in ending Sabalenka’s streak of 15 consecutive WTA 1000 wins following her title runs in Miami and Madrid.
Credit Zheng for courageous shot-making snapping from start to finish in scoring her second career win over a world No. 1.
A fast start, sharper serving and stronger shot tolerance were all essential elements in Zheng's upset.
"I say to myself, Don't give her any free point, because I know when the rally gets longer, I have more benefit when I have four, five shots," Zhent said. "When I see the stats, I'm always there, like, playing more physical on clay. I got more advantage.
"I remember before when I face her the beginning, I always give her so easy away the first two games. 3-0, 2-0, 4-0 so easy. Today when I step on court, I say, I got be there and hold my service game to don't make the match go away so fast.
"Seems like the tactic is working. When I really dedicate in the match, I feel I start to see everything clear where I have to play."
Both of Zheng’s wins over top-ranked champions have come on red clay and both snapped substantial winning streaks.
Facing a 0-4 second-set deficit, Zheng roared through seven of the last eight games shocking Polish world No. 1 Iga Swiatek 6-2, 7-5 in they’s Paris Olympics semifinals.
Playing with poise and power, Zheng made history reaching the gold-medal match in her Olympic debut last June.
The 21-year-old Zheng became the first Chinese tennis player to reach an Olympic final and she snapped Swiatek's 25-match Roland Garros winning streak to do it.
Denying a couple of break points, Zheng earned a hard-fought hold for 2-all. Then turned the screws on Sabalenka’s serve.
A slick backhand drop shot winner wrapped around a pair of Sabalenka netted forehands helped Zheng earn first-break blood at love for 3-2.
Though Sabalenka had more break points in the set (3 to 1), she also scattered some untimely errors trying to squeeze big blasts near the lines.
Serving for the set, Zheng zapped successive aces. Zheng coaxed a couple of forehand errors to snatch the opening set in 51 minutes.
Zheng, who had lost 12 of 13 prior sets vs. the top seed, took a set from Sabalenka for the first time since the 2024 Wuhan final.
A sloppy Sabalenka was missing trying to change direction down the line. Zheng exploited a rough game from the Belarusian breaking to start the second set.
Early in the second game, chair umpire Marija Cicak hit Sabalenka with a code violation warning for audible obscenity. Driving the ball with authority, Zheng stamped her third love game of the match confirming the break for 2-0.
Still, Sabalenka showed champion’s character as she fought off four break points with some of her finest forehand strikes down the line holding for 3-4.
The US Open champion’s last stand came in the eighth game. Sabalenka went up 15-40 on Zheng’s serve and was one good swing from leveling the set.
On this day, Zheng was one step quicker and one shot sharper.
The eighth-seeded Chinese saved both break points then drew two tight forehands from Sabalenka as she held strong for 5-3. By then, Zheng had saved all five break points she faced.
That hold really broke Sabalenka. Zheng rocketed a return right off the baseline earning triple match point as Sabalenka waved her hands in an “it’s just not my day” expression of angst.
On her second match point, Zheng closed on Sabalenka’s third double fault of the day.
Zheng danced all over her winless streak against Sabalenka, and now she aims to break through against Gauff and high-step into the final.