Zheng breaks Sabalenka streak to reach Italian Open semis

ROME: Zheng Qinwen finally claimed her first victory over Aryna Sabalenka at the seventh attempt, defeating the world number one 6-4, 6-3 in the Italian Open quarter-finals on Wednesday. The 22-year-old Chinese star delivered a composed and confident performance in Rome, ending Sabalenka’s nine-match clay-court winning streak.

Zheng had previously struggled against Sabalenka, losing six times—including in the 2024 Australian Open final—but admitted that her past deference to the Belarusian may have held her back.

“The few times I faced her in the beginning, I gave her too much respect,” Zheng said. “I didn’t face her like a normal player.”

That mindset changed on the red clay, a surface where Zheng feels at ease. “I guess when I play on clay, I’m more comfortable… I was more patient,” she noted. “I’m happy with my performance and happy to make the step forward to beat the world number one.”

Zheng now faces world number three Coco Gauff in the semi-finals as she builds momentum ahead of the French Open, which begins May 25.