ROMA – Zheng Qinwen set up the Italian Open semi-final match against Cocogoff with his first victory against top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3 on Wednesday.
China’s Olympic champion Zheng, 22, has lost all six previous matches against Sabalenka. 8th place Zheng saved all five breakpoints she faced, breaking Sabalenka’s service three times to reach the final four.
Rome is the last big warm-up before the French opening begins on May 25th.
Both players hit high quality shots with tiebreakers. This included Andreva’s super blot shot just behind the net from a tight angle, allowing her to take the level 5-5 before Goff scored the final two points and sealed the match.
Gouf won all four matches against 18-year-old Andreva, beat her at the French Open and the US Open in Madrid two weeks ago in 2023.
Jasmine Parini and Payton Stearns will face off in the other semi-finals.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
