Rome: Coco Gauff outlasted Olympic champion Zheng Zheng Qinwen 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(4), winning in a final-set tiebreak, to reach her first career final of the Italian Open.
The match that lasted three hours and 32 minutes was not only the longest of Gauff’s career, but also on the WTA Tour this year.
Gauff had previously been 0-2 in the semifinals in Rome, having never won a set in those matches. And she was nearly handed more Italian heartbreak from a set ahead this time around, as Zheng was two points from becoming the first Chinese woman since Li Na in 2012 to play for the trophy after she turned around an absorbing final set that lasted more than 80 minutes on its own — from being a break down twice, WTA reports.
Gauff will face home favorite, top-ranked Italian Jasmine Paolini in the final.
Earlier in the day, Paolini became the third Italian woman in the Open Era to reach the Italian Open final after coming from 4-1 down in the first set, saving two set points, to defeat Peyton Stearns 7-5, 6-1 in 1 hour and 39 minutes.
Paolini advances to her eighth career final, and fourth at WTA 1000 level or above following Dubai, Roland Garros and Wimbledon last year. She is the first Italian woman to reach the final in Rome since doubles partner Sara Errani in 2014, and will bid to become the first home champion since 1985, when Raffaella Reggi defeated Vicki Nelson-Dunbar for the trophy.
Meanwhile Tommy Paul continued his impressive form at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Thursday, as he surged into the last-four stage once again, becoming the first American to reach consecutive semifinals in Rome since Pete Sampras in 1993-94. The 27-year-old achieved the feat by taming the big-hitting Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(4), 6-3 to reach consecutive semifinals at the Italian ATP Masters 1000 event. He will next play World No 1 Jannik Sinner, who treated his home fans to a tennis masterclass on Thursday evening, when he routed Casper Ruud 6-0, 6-1 with a stunning all-around quarter-final performance in Rome. (IANS)
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