Italian Open: Zheng upsets under-par Sabalenka to reach last four

Zheng Qinwen defeated Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, the top seed, 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the semi-finals of the Italian Open at the Foro Italico in Rome.

The Chinese world No 8 earned he first ever victory against Sabalenka, finally avenging her defeat to the Belarusian in the 2024 Australian Open final.

An early break in each set was enough for Zheng to take firm control of the contest before a third and final break in the ninth game of the second set – courtesy of an ill-time double-fault on match point – sent Sabalenka crashing out of the tournament.

The world No 1 was well below her best and unusually subdued against a clinical and efficient performance from Zheng, who has now reached her first semi-final since the WTA Finals last November, and her first in Rome.

Zheng, ranked No 8, will play American Coco Gauff, the No 4 seed, next.

Ahead of her victory, the 22-year-old Chinese defeated Serb Olga Danilovic (6-1, 6-4), Pole Magdalena Frech, the No 26 seed (6-3, 6-2) and Canadian Bianca Andreescu (7-5, 6-1).

Sabalenka, ranked No 1, won against Russian Anastasia Potapova (6-2, 6-2), American Sofia Kenin, the No 31 seed (3-6, 6-3, 6-3) and Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk (6-1, 7-6 (8)) earlier in the tournament.

Rome WTA 1000, other last-eight results (Foro Italico, clay, EUR 6.009.593, most recent results first):

• Coco Gauff beat Mirra Andreeva (7): 6-4, 7-6 (5)
• Peyton Stearns beat Elina Svitolina (16): 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (4)
• Jasmine Paolini (6) beat Diana Shnaider (13): 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-2