The last time Coco Gauff met Zheng Qinwen, the two players battled for more than 3 hours in the final of the 2024 WTA Finalist Riyadh presented by PIF — in a match eventually won by Gauff in a final-set tiebreak after being a break down in the final set.
At the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, they met again — and once more, they toiled in a marathon won by Gauff in a final-set tiebreak after being a break down in the final set. No. 4 seed Gauff outlasted No. 8 seed Zheng 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(4) to reach her first career final in Rome, becoming the first American in nine years to get the to final in the Eternal City in the process.
The match was not only the longest of Gauff’s career, but also on the Hologic WTA Tour this year.
She will face home favorite, top-ranked Italian Jasmine Paolini in the final in an effort to become the first U.S. player to win the singles title at the WTA 1000 event since Serena Williams beat Madison Keys in that all-American championship match.
“I was just trying to go for every point,” Gauff said afterwards. “I knew before it was going to be a physical match. Last time we played was over three hours.
“Overall I’m just happy. Wasn’t my best level at all, to be honest. Just happy to get through it and through to another final.”
