Gauff outlasts Zheng in marathon Rome semifinal

China's Zheng Qinwen was eliminated in the semifinals of the WTA Italian Open on Thursday, as she lost to Coco Gauff 2-1 in a nearly four-hour battle.

Zheng Qinwen returns a shot during the women's singles semifinal match between Zheng Qinwen of China and Coco Gauff of the United States at the WTA Italian Open in Rome, Italy, May 15, 2025. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)

Having knocked out top seed Aryna Sabalenka for the first-time in her career at the quarterfinals, Zheng was narrowly beaten in the first set in a tiebreak 7-6 (3), but Zheng drew level with a 6-4 in the second set.

Zheng had led 5-3 in the third set, but Gauff pushed the match to another tiebreak and eventually sealed the win with 7-6 (4).

Gauff will meet Jasmine Paolini in the final.