Gauff joins Paolini in Italian Open final after gruelling win over Zheng

Coco Gauff will face Jasmine Paolini in the Italian Open final after winning a classic semi-final against Qinwen Zheng in a third-set tie-break.

Thursday's second semi-final advanced into the early hours of Friday local time, with Gauff requiring over three and a half hours to win a gruelling encounter 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 7-6 (7-4).

It was clear from the off that a dramatic affair was brewing, with the players trading a remarkable eight breaks of serve in the opening set.

Zheng – chasing just her second WTA 1000 final and her first outside her native China – was serving for the opening set at 6-5 up, but Gauff dug deep to break again and force a first-set tie-break.

Gauff kicked on from there to edge the tie-break, though neither player covered themselves in glory in a first set where they made 35 unforced errors apiece.

But it was Zheng who cleaned up her game early in the second set, getting an early break as she raced into a 4-1 lead.

She began to wobble from there, only operating at a 37% first-serve percentage in the second set, though four straight breaks from the pair meant she levelled up the contest.

The mistakes on serve continued in the decider, which went the distance as six more breaks were split evenly, making this the longest women's singles match of the 2025 tournament.

But Gauff's expert movement to the net told in a hard-fought tie-break, and when Zheng returned long at the end of an energy-sapping rally, the American's victory was sealed.

FOUGHT HER WAY INTO THE FINAL After an over 3 hour battle, @CocoGauff rallies her way into the final in Rome defeating Zheng 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6!#IBI25 pic.twitter.com/ICi4zfL1nI
— wta (@WTA) May 15, 2025

Data debrief: Rare deciding tie-break in Rome

This was just the third women's singles semi-final at the Italian Open to be decided by a third-set tie-break, after Tracy Austin versus Chris Evert (in 1979) and Jelena Jankovic against Serena Williams (2010).

Since the inception of the women's singles at Madrid in 2009, 21-year-old Gauff is the youngest player to reach the final in women's singles at both Madrid and Rome.

Gauff lost the showpiece match in Spain to Aryna Sabalenka last month, but she will be hopeful of going one better against home favourite Paolini on Saturday.

Gauff is the third-youngest player to reach the final at four WTA 1000 events since the format's 2009 introduction, older only than Caroline Wozniacki and Iga Swiatek.