Gauff Defeats Zheng Reaches Italian Open Final

Coco Gauff defeated China's Zheng Qinwen in a grueling nearly four-hour semifinal match at the WTA Italian Open, winning 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(4) to reach her first final at this event. The match was the longest of Gauff's career and the WTA Tour this year, characterized by a slow court and heavy balls, which made the contest physically demanding and filled with errors. Zheng, who had previously upset top seed Aryna Sabalenka, led 5-3 in the final set before Gauff rallied to force a tiebreak and clinch the victory. Both players acknowledged the match's difficulty; Zheng highlighted the technical lessons learned and the need for better preparation ahead of Roland Garros, while Gauff said Zheng pushed her out of her comfort zone and tested her limits. Gauff will face Italian top seed Jasmine Paolini in the final, seeking to become the first U.S. player since Serena Williams to win the singles title at this WTA 1000 tournament. The match underscored the competitiveness and resilience of both players on clay, with Gauff now holding a 3-0 head-to-head record against Zheng.