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SCMP Sport

Agencies

Zheng Qinwen has expressed her relief after she beat her nemesis Aryna Sabalenka at the seventh time of asking at the Italian Open, saying: “Finally, I broke through.”
The Olympic gold medallist was a 6-4, 6-3 winner over the world No 1 in the quarter-finals in Rome on Wednesday, in what was her first-ever victory over the Belarusian.
Before their meeting at Forco Italico, Zheng had only ever taken a single set off Sabalenka, whose most high-profile defeat of the Chinese star came in last year’s Australian Open final.
The world No 8’s struggles had led fans in China to label Sabalenka the “mountain she cannot climb”.
“I’ve always known I have the ability to beat anyone, and I’m really happy that I truly did it today,” Zheng told Chinese media.

After surviving early pressure on her own serve, Zheng broke Sabalenka to take a 3-2 lead in the first set before serving out.
Zheng then pounced in Sabalenka’s first service game in the second frame to go up a break.
Sabalenka showed determination to make gritty holds in the fifth and seventh games of the set, but she could not make inroads on Zheng’s service as the 22-year-old powered into the semis.
“It’s been a long time I haven’t arrived in semi-finals,” Zheng told Sky Sports after securing her first last-four appearance of the season. “It was not easy for me because at the beginning of the year I got some struggles with my arm.
“So right now I’m just perfectly in shape and trying to play better tennis all the time.”
Zheng will meet Coco Gauff in the last four after the American earlier beat Mirra Andreeva 6-4, 7-6.
Gauff has guaranteed herself No 2 in the women’s world rankings with her solid displays in Rome, where she saw off seventh seed Andreeva.
The former US Open winner said she had “a lot of confidence” for the last four, where she will face an opponent who she holds a 2-0 record against.
Gauff, 21, is looking for her first title of the season ahead of Roland Garros, after losing the Madrid final to Sabalenka.
Elsewhere, Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong Chak-lam beat Bolivia’s Murkel Dellien 7-5, 7-5 to reach the quarter-finals of the Tunis Open.


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WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

Zheng Qinwen hails her first-ever win over Aryna Sabalenka: ‘Finally, I broke through’

Zheng Qinwen celebrates her victory over Aryna Sabalenka in Rome. Photo: Xinhua

Zheng Qinwen celebrates after earning her first-ever victory over Aryna Sabalenka during their Italian Open quarter-final. Photo: Xinhua

Zheng Qinwen prepares to serve during her Italian Open match-up with Aryna Sabalenka. Photo: Xinhua

Zheng Qinwen eyes improvement in 2025, starting with Italian Open

Zheng Qinwen in action during her disappointing second-round exit to world No 34 Anastasia Potapova in April. Photo: Xinhua

Zheng Qinwen (right) has yet to overcome Aryna Sabalenka in six meetings. Photo: Reuters

Pope Leo receives world No 1 Jannik Sinner at the Vatican after pontiff’s tennis confession

Pope Leo XIV declined when Jannik Sinner handed him a racquet and asked him to play during a private audience at the Vatican. Photo: dpa

Jannik Sinner and Pope Leo with the Davis Cup, which Sinner helped Italy retain last year. Photo: EPA-EFE

Sport

Tennis

The Olympic gold medallist prevails at the Italian Open after six straight defeats against the world No 1


The Olympic gold medallist prevails at the Italian Open after six straight defeats against the world No 1.


ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals)

Zheng Qinwen

Zheng Qinwen hails her first-ever win over Aryna Sabalenka: ‘Finally, I broke through’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The Olympic gold medallist prevails at the Italian Open after six straight defeats against the world No 1

The Olympic gold medallist prevails at the Italian Open after six straight defeats against the world No 1