Zheng Qinwen Upsets Sabalenka, Reaches Italian Open Semis vs. Gauff

Zheng Qinwen earned her first victory over top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3 to set up an Italian Open semifinal match against Coco Gauff.

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The 22-year-old Zheng, the Olympic champion from China, had lost all six previous matches against Sabalenka. The eighth-ranked Zheng saved all five break points she faced and broke Sabalenka's serve three times to reach the last four.

Rome is the last big warmup before the French Open starts on May 25.

Olympic champion Zheng, who had lost all six of her previous meetings with Sabalenka, broke the Belarusian's serve to lead 3-2 before closing out the first set.

The eighth seed then made the crucial break in Sabalenka's first service game of the second set to open a route to victory.