China’s No 2 Wang Qiang faces Coco Gauff in first career clay final
- World No 48 beats Sloane Stephens in straight sets, saving three set points in comeback from 5-1 down in the second
- Emilia-Romagna Open sees first final since 2018 WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai and first outside China at French Open tune-up
China’s No 2 Wang Qiang is into her first singles final since 2018 and the first clay court final of her career after beating Sloane Stephens in the Parma Challenger semi-final in Italy on Friday.
Wang, the world No 48, won in straight sets 6-2, 7-6, taking the second on a tiebreak, 7-3, but she was made to work by the American.
The 29-year-old Wang had been 5-1 down in that second set before a remarkable comeback, including saving three set points, to seal victory over Stephens in Montechiarugolo.
Sixth seed Wang overcame No 2 seed Petra Martic in the quarter-finals on Thursday to reach the semi and now plays the final, which is also her first outside China.
She now faces US teen sensation Coco Gauff in the final after the 17-year-old beat Katerina Siniakova in the other semi-final, 7-5, 1-6, 6-2. The Czech had sent top seed Serena Williams packing in the second round.