Zheng has endured a miserable 2025, with the Olympic champion seeing her form slump from the highs of what she achieved last year. but she snapped back into top form impressively in Rome, beating Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3 on a night when the Belarusian star was out of sorts.
While Zheng played with the consistency and accuracy that fired her to the top of the game last year, Sabalenka appeared to be unsettled from an early phase in the match and her mood was highlighted by an angry outburst at a fan that led to an instant warning from the umpire.
After the spectator encouraged Sabalenka to “play some tennis”, she instantly responded with an angry repost.
It was an incident that highlighted Sabalenka’s lack of composure, with Zheng delighted to kick-start her season after what has been a poor run of form.
Zheng had lost all six of her previous matches against Sabalenka, but she found a way to get the job done in convincing fashion in Rome.
“I was just trying to do what I need to do on court and that is being more consistent,” said Zheng.
“All the times I played her before was on a hard court and this was our first time on clay. It’s a totally different structure on a hard court.
“Always, I give her too many easy games at the start when we played before, so I make sure I was there at the beginning today.
“It’s been a long time since I have arrived in the semi-final. I’ve had some problems with my arm this year and now I’m just happy to make the semi-finals in Rome.
“I have a lot of good memories here and now I’ve just made another memory.”
Zheng will now take on Coco Gauff in the semi-finals. The American has emerged as the favourite to win the Italian Open after Sabalenka followed Iga Swiatek out of the tournament.
Gauff overcame seventh-ranked Mirra Andreeva 6-4, 7-6(5) to reach the last four.
“I’m feeling really good — and I feel I have a lot to improve on, too,” Gauff said after her win.
“When you’re winning matches and you still feel like you have a whole ceiling to reach, it just makes you feel good.”
