Rome, Italy – In a pulsating women’s singles semifinal at the Italian Open on Thursday, fourth seed Coco Gauff of the U.S. outlasted No. 8 seed Zheng Qinwen of the Chinese mainland 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(4). With two tense tiebreaks, Gauff becomes the first American to reach the Rome final since 2016.
The match started with Zheng breaking serve in the opening game and racing to a 2-0 lead. Gauff quickly responded, trading breaks and pushing the set to 6-6. In the ensuing tiebreak, the 2023 U.S. Open champion seized momentum with a 7-3 run to claim the opener.
Zheng roared back in set two, storming to a 3-0 advantage before exchanging four breaks with Gauff. The Chinese mainland player clinched the set 6-4, leveling the match and forcing a decider.
Neither player relented in the final set, trading holds and breaks in a seesaw battle that again went the distance. In the third tiebreak, Gauff held her nerve, pulling away 7-4 to seal a memorable victory and book her spot in Sunday’s final, where she’ll vie for her first WTA 1000 title in Rome.
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Coco Gauff outlasts Zheng Qinwen after two tiebreaks at Italian Open
cgtn.com
