Coco Gauff Triumphs in Epic Italian Open Semifinal, Faces Jasmine Paolini in Final
Coco Gauff secures a thrilling victory over Zheng Qinwen in a marathon semifinal at the Italian Open, setting up a final clash with Jasmine Paolini.

In an exhilarating display of resilience and skill, Coco Gauff outlasted Zheng Qinwen in a grueling three-set semifinal at the Italian Open, ultimately prevailing with a score of 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (4). The match, which lasted over three and a half hours, showcased the determination and tenacity of both players.
Gauff, the American rising star, faced a tough challenge from Zheng, who fought valiantly throughout the contest. The first set was a rollercoaster, with Gauff letting a 5-3 lead slip but ultimately capitalizing on Zheng's double faults to edge the set. The second set saw Zheng bounce back with an early break, forcing a decisive third set. However, Gauff held her nerve in the final tiebreak, securing her place in the final.
In the other semifinal, Jasmine Paolini made history by becoming the first Italian woman in over a decade to reach the final at her home tournament. Paolini defeated Peyton Stearns with a score of 7-5, 6-1, demonstrating her ability to mount comebacks and dominate crucial moments.
Paolini, ranked No. 5 in the world, had a slow start in the opening set but rallied to win four consecutive games, taking the set after more than an hour of play. The momentum carried into the second set, where she broke Stearns multiple times to secure the victory.
In the men's draw, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner delivered a commanding performance, dismantling Casper Ruud with a score of 6-0, 6-1 in the quarterfinals. Sinner's dominance was evident as he dropped only seven points in the opening set and wrapped up the match in just 63 minutes.
Sinner will face Tommy Paul in the semifinals, while Lorenzo Musetti takes on Carlos Alcaraz in the other semifinal clash. The stage is set for an exciting conclusion to the Italian Open, with both the men's and women's finals promising high-quality tennis.