The quarterfinals of the 2025 Italian Open on the WTA side has wrapped up, and the semifinal matchups are set.
(No. 8) Zheng Qinwen def. (No. 1) Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3
Zheng Qinwen secured her first career win over World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets, advancing to the semifinals where she will face Coco Gauff. The Olympic champion from China had previously lost all six of her matches against Sabalenka but delivered a clutch performance, saving all five break points she faced and breaking Sabalenka’s serve three times. Zheng, who has been in top form on clay recently, improved to 17–3 in her last 20 matches on the surface. Sabalenka entered the match riding a nine-match clay-court winning streak, but Zheng’s consistency and shot-making proved too much to handle.
(No. 4) Coco Gauff def. (No. 7) Mirra Andreeva 6-4, 7-6 (5)
Coco Gauff extended her perfect record against Mirra Andreeva to 4–0 with a straight-sets win to reach the semifinals. Gauff played aggressively throughout the match and maintain her composure during a high-quality second-set tiebreak, winning the final two points after it was level at 5–5. With the win, Gauff is guaranteed to move up to No. 2 in the world rankings, passing Iga Swiatek. The 20-year-old American has now won 9 of her last 10 matches on clay and will meet Zheng Qinwen in the semifinals.
Peyton Stearns def. (No. 16) Elina Svitolina 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (4)
Wildcard Peyton Stearns stunned 16th seed Elina Svitolina in a three-set match to advance to the semifinals. Stearns made history by becoming the first player in the Open Era to win three consecutive WTA main-draw matches via third-set tiebreakers. After taking the first set and building a 4-2 lead in the second, Stearns let Svitolina back into the match, eventually falling in the second set. In the decider, Stearns rallied from a double-break deficit to force a tiebreak and sealed the win. She will face No. 6 seed Jasmine Paolini in the semifinals.
(No. 6) Jasmine Paolini def. (No. 13) Diana Shnaider 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-2
Jasmine Paolini became the first Italian woman in 11 years to reach the Italian Open semifinals with a hard-fought win over Diana Shnaider. Paolini led 4–0 in the opening set before Shnaider stormed back, eventually dominating the tiebreak to take the set. Shnaider then raced to a 4–0 lead in the second set, but Paolini flipped the momentum, winning six consecutive games to level the match. In the decider, Paolini once again had to come from behind after an early break, but her resilience paid off as she closed out the match to continue her run. She will face wildcard Peyton Stearns in the semifinals.
