In a thrilling semifinal clash at the 2025 Italian Open, the Foro Italico’s red clay courts witnessed not only a battle of tennis titans but also a moment of pure comedy that left fans roaring with laughter. World No. 3 Coco Gauff, locked in a grueling match against China’s Qinwen Zheng, inadvertently served to an empty court, unaware that her opponent was still at the bench adjusting her racket. The lighthearted blunder, captured on video, became an instant viral sensation, adding a memorable footnote to an otherwise intense three-and-a-half-hour duel that Gauff won 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(4).
The match itself was a rollercoaster, showcasing the resilience and skill of two of the WTA’s brightest young stars. Gauff, the 21-year-old American, came into Rome fresh off a Madrid Open final, her confidence bolstered by a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory over Emma Raducanu and a hard-fought 6-4, 7-6(5) win against Mirra Andreeva in earlier rounds. Zheng, the 22-year-old Olympic gold medalist, had stunned the tennis world by toppling top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals, ending a six-match losing streak against the Belarusian with a commanding 6-4, 6-3 performance. Their semifinal encounter promised fireworks, and it delivered—though not without a moment of unintended hilarity.
The comical incident occurred during a tense moment in the second set. Gauff, preparing to serve, was so engrossed in her rhythm that she failed to notice Zheng had stepped away to her bench, likely to tweak her equipment after a string of intense rallies. With the crowd hushed, Gauff launched a powerful serve down the T, only to see the ball sail unreturned across an empty baseline. The American froze, then buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking with laughter as she realized her mistake. Zheng, equally bewildered, glanced up from the bench, her puzzled expression adding to the absurdity of the scene. “I was just in the zone,” Gauff later chuckled in her post-match press conference, reflecting on the gaffe. The crowd erupted in cheers and laughter, and social media lit up with clips of the moment, with fans calling it a “classic Coco moment.”
Despite the levity, the match was anything but a laughing matter. Both players traded blows in a contest marked by 16 double faults from Gauff and 74 unforced errors from Zheng, underscoring the high stakes and pressure. Gauff converted 9 of 17 break points, while Zheng managed 10 of 27, but it was Gauff’s tenacity in the tiebreaks that sealed her victory. After clinching the match point, she thumped her chest and shouted, “Let’s go!” and “Don’t play with me!”—a raw display of emotion that electrified the Rome crowd. “Qinwen is a tough challenge, especially on clay,” Gauff told reporters, referencing their previous encounters, including a three-set epic at the 2024 WTA Finals where she prevailed 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(2). “Every time we play, it’s a battle.”
Zheng, despite the loss, held her head high. “The match was very close,” she said, echoing her sentiments from their WTA Finals clash. Her performance in Rome, capped by her upset over Sabalenka, solidified her status as a rising force, particularly on clay, where her heavy topspin forehand thrives. The Chinese star’s journey to the semifinals included wins over Olga Danilović, Magdalena Fręch, and Bianca Andreescu, showcasing her growing consistency.
For Gauff, the victory propelled her into her first Italian Open final, set to face either Jasmine Paolini or Peyton Stearns on May 17. The win also boosted her to the No. 2 spot in the WTA rankings, overtaking Iga Świątek, and positioned her as a top seed for the upcoming French Open. “I’m just proud of how I fought today,” Gauff said, her smile wide as she addressed the crowd’s support. The Rome semifinal wasn’t just a stepping stone to Roland Garros—it was a testament to her grit, even when her focus led to a serve into thin air.
The blunder, while hilarious, highlighted Gauff’s ability to stay locked in under pressure, a trait that has defined her meteoric rise since her 2023 US Open title. Fans on social media celebrated her relatability, with one post dubbing her “the queen of keeping it real.” Zheng, too, earned praise for her sportsmanship, smiling off the incident as she returned to the court. As the tennis world buzzes with anticipation for the French Open, this Rome semifinal will be remembered not only for its competitive fire but for a moment of pure, unscripted joy that reminded everyone why they love the sport.
Coco Gauff hits a serve but doesn’t realize Qinwen Zheng wasn’t at the baseline 😂😂😂
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 15, 2025
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