Zheng Qinwen earned her first victory over top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3 to set up an Italian Open semifinal match against Coco Gauff.

Gauff’s victory comes just days after another major moment in Rome: the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, who was chosen last week at the conclusion of the papal conclave. The event drew global attention to the Vatican — including from Gauff herself.

Gauff opened the first set with a love service game and earned a crucial break in the eighth game, though Andreeva immediately responded

Coco Gauff continued her mastery over Russian teen Mirra Andreeva and returned to the Italian Open semifinals with a 6-4, 7-6 (5) victory on Wednesday in Rome.

American tennis star Coco Gauff put on a dominant display as she eased past Emma Raducanu on Monday to book her spot in the Italian Open quarterfinals.

The world No. 1 was rusty on his first match back after three months away. His Italian Open draw means he cannot afford to be so for long.

It was hard to imagine that Jannik Sinner would play at such a high level already in his first tournament after his return to the professional tour. The world No.1 – who had not been able to play since the Australian Open due to a three-month ban – returned to action in Rome this week and reached the quarterfinals without dropping a set.

Plastic sheets cover the field during a thunderstorm prior to the start round of sixteen match between Jannik Sinner and Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome,

In the women's draw, Coco Gauff will be hoping to follow up her thumping win over Raducanu by beating Mirra Andreeva, while Aryna Sabalenka faces a similarly tricky test against Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen.