In the electrifying cauldron of Rome’s Foro Italico, Coco Gauff delivered a performance for the ages, outlasting Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng in a three-hour, 32-minute semifinal marathon at the 2025 Italian Open. The world number three’s 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(4) victory, the longest WTA match of the year, propelled her into her first Rome final against hometown favorite Jasmine Paolini. Amid the grueling battle, one moment stood out: an unplanned forehand slice that left Gauff herself in disbelief, a shot that epitomized her resilience and instinct under pressure. As she prepares for the final, Gauff’s journey is a testament to her grit, mental fortitude, and ability to conjure magic when it matters most.
The semifinal was a rollercoaster of momentum swings, with 19 service breaks and a staggering 156 unforced errors between the two players. Gauff, the fourth seed, faced a Zheng who arrived brimming with confidence after a 6-4, 6-3 upset over world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals. “I was just trying to go for every point,” Gauff said, recalling the physical and mental toll of their clash, which echoed their three-hour WTA Finals epic in 2024. The American led their head-to-head 2-0, including a 7-6(4), 6-1 win in Rome’s 2024 quarterfinals, but Zheng’s powerful forehand and aggressive baseline game pushed her to the brink. “She always forces me to play uncomfortable tennis and get out of my comfort zone,” Gauff admitted, crediting Zheng’s ability to disrupt her rhythm.
The match’s defining moment came in the third set, as Gauff, trailing 30-0 in the second game, prepared to serve. Unbeknownst to her, Zheng had wandered to her bench to change rackets, leaving the court momentarily empty. Oblivious, Gauff fired a serve, only to realize her opponent’s absence mid-motion. The bizarre incident sparked laughter, but it was her earlier, impromptu forehand slice that stole the spotlight. Asked about the shot in her post-match press conference, Gauff confessed, “I myself was shocked at it.” The slice, a tactical gem she honed in her junior days but now deploys selectively, caught Zheng off guard at a critical juncture, helping Gauff regain control in a rally. “You did it a lot when you were younger, but now you just play it in key moments,” an interviewer noted, prompting Gauff to reflect on her evolving game.
Gauff’s path to the final was no cakewalk. After a first-round bye, she battled past Canadian qualifier Victoria Mboko 3-6, 6-2, 6-1, then dispatched Magda Linette 7-5, 6-3 and Emma Raducanu 6-1, 6-2. Her quarterfinal win over seventh seed Mirra Andreeva, a 6-4, 7-6(5) thriller, showcased her clutch play. “I’m really confident on clay,” Gauff said, her 9-1 record across Madrid and Rome this season bolstering her belief. Yet, the Zheng match tested her limits, with 16 double faults and 82 unforced errors revealing its scrappy nature. “It wasn’t my best level at all,” she admitted, her honesty endearing her to fans who stayed past midnight to witness her triumph.
Now, Gauff faces Paolini, who cruised past Peyton Stearns 7-5, 6-1 to become the first Italian woman in the Rome final since 2014. Their head-to-head stands at 2-1 in Gauff’s favor, but Paolini’s recent 6-4, 6-3 clay win in Stuttgart and the fervent Italian crowd pose challenges. “She’s a tough opponent, especially here with the home crowd,” Gauff said, anticipating a battle. A victory would make her the first American to win Rome since Serena Williams in 2016 and secure the world number two ranking, overtaking Iga Swiatek. With $2.2 million in 2025 earnings and a shot at her 11th WTA title, Gauff’s Rome run is a defining moment in her ascent. From an unplanned slice to a historic final, she’s proving that even in chaos, brilliance can shine.
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