Coco Gauff outlasted Olympic champion Zheng Zheng Qinwen 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(4), winning in a final-set tiebreak, to reach her first career final of the Italian Open.
The match that lasted three hours and 32 minutes was not only the longest of Gauff's career, but also on the WTA Tour this year.
Gauff had previously been 0-2 in the semifinals in Rome, having never won a set in those matches. And she was nearly handed more Italian heartbreak from a set ahead this time around, as Zheng was two points from becoming the first Chinese woman since Li Na in 2012 to play for the trophy after she turned around an absorbing final set that lasted more than 80 minutes on its own -- from being a break down twice, WTA reports.
"I was just trying to go for every point. I knew before it was going to be a physical match. Last time we played was over three hours. Overall I'm just happy. Wasn't my best level at all, to be honest. Just happy to get through it and through to another final," Gauff said.
"The whole match for me the court was so slow. Especially when the ball after like two games, they're so heavy. This was my second night match. My first one was first round. I was playing someone completely different game style. Yeah, it was tough.