Zheng Qinwen scored a significant victory against World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, winning 6-4, 6-3. This match marked Zheng’s first triumph over Sabalenka after six previous encounters. With this win, she advanced to the semifinals, showcasing her skills by saving all break points and breaking Sabalenka’s serve three times.
Zheng’s Remarkable Comeback
Before this match, Zheng had struggled against Sabalenka, having lost all six of their previous meetings. Additionally, she had never made it past the quarterfinals in Rome. However, in just 1 hour and 37 minutes, she turned her luck around, handling the pressure with confidence and securing her place in the next round.
Zheng took control early in the match and never looked back. After a shaky start where the first three games were won by the server, she denied Sabalenka on two break points during a tense fourth game. Zheng then took charge, breaking Sabalenka’s serve and maintaining her lead throughout the match, ultimately handing Sabalenka her first loss to a Top 10 player this season.
Her composure shone through, especially in the second set, where she led from start to finish. Although she missed several break point opportunities to extend her lead, she remained focused, saving two critical break points that could have allowed Sabalenka to equalize. This victory not only signifies a personal achievement for Zheng but also highlights her potential as a rising star in women’s tennis.
With this victory, Zheng becomes the second Chinese woman to reach the semifinals in Rome, following in the footsteps of Li Na, who was the runner-up in 2012. Zheng now sets her sights on reaching her second WTA 1000 final, where she will face No. 4 seed Coco Gauff. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see if she can continue this momentum and make history in the upcoming match.