Zheng Qinwen has made history by securing her first victory against World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka during their seventh meeting, triumphing with a score of 6-4, 6-3 in Rome. This win not only propels Zheng into the semifinals, but it also marks a significant milestone as she saved all break points she faced and successfully broke Sabalenka’s serve three times, showcasing her dominance throughout the match.
Turning the Tables on Sabalenka
In a nod to the late tennis great Vitas Gerulaitis, it’s clear that no one beats Zheng seven times in a row. Before this match, Zheng had never won against Sabalenka and had also struggled at the quarterfinal stage in Rome, losing her previous two attempts. However, in a match that lasted 1 hour and 37 minutes, she turned the tables, overcoming both challenges.
From the very first serve, Zheng took control. After the opening games went with serve, she never fell behind again. She successfully defended against two break points in a tense fourth game of the first set, leveling the score at 2-2, and then broke Sabalenka’s serve in the fifth game. This match resulted in Sabalenka’s first loss of the season to a Top 10 player, having been undefeated up until now.
Zheng’s composure was particularly impressive, especially late in the second set where she maintained her lead. Although she missed several opportunities to extend her advantage, she remained focused and saved two critical break points that could have allowed Sabalenka to tie the match at 4-4.
With this victory, Zheng becomes the second Chinese woman ever to reach the semifinals in Rome, following in the footsteps of Li Na, who was the runner-up in 2012. Zheng is now set to compete for a spot in her second WTA 1000 final against the No. 4 seed, Coco Gauff. More exciting action is on the way, and fans around the world are eagerly anticipating what this promising young athlete will achieve next.