Aryna Sabalenka was sent crashing out in the last eight by Zheng Qinwen at the Italian Open on Wednesday.

Top seed Sabalenka struggled for rhythm in a disappointing straight-sets defeat to Zheng, who triumphed 6-4 6-3 to reach her first semi-final since the WTA Finals last November.

The world number eight also earned her first victory against Sabalenka, avenging her defeat to the Belarusian in the 2024 Australian Open final, and will next meet Coco Gauff in the last four in Rome.

Sabalenka proved unbreakable through her first two service games, as did Zheng, who then claimed the decisive break and never looked back to claim the first set.

The Chinese player did squander a first set-point opportunity, but made amends with her second attempt to immediately put the red-hot world number one on the backfoot.

Seemingly still reeling from the opening-set concession, Sabalenka was again broken in her first service game by Zheng, who did not drop a single game with the ball in hand.

That impressive form on her own serve helped Zheng pile further pressure on her opponent before converting her second match point to upset the favourite on the clay.

She's certified gold

Zheng Qinwen never let up, delivering a masterclass performance as she powered past Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3!#IBI25 pic.twitter.com/EgCcY6mHV0

— wta (@WTA) May 14, 2025

Data Debrief: High-flying Zheng stuns Sabalenka

Zheng became only the second Chinese player after Li Na, in 2011 and 2012, to reach the women’s singles semi-final at the Italian Open during the Open Era.

In doing so, she registered her 40th win in WTA-1000 events from 64 matches, equalling Li Na for the fewest matches taken to 40 wins in such events amongst Chinese players since the format's introduction in 2009.

Sabalenka had gone 6-0 in previous head-to-head clashes with Zheng, who lost the previous match 6-2 7-5 back in March, in the Miami Open quarter-finals.

However, a first victory against the world number one was richly deserved, with Zheng serving four aces to her opponent's zero, as well as successfully defending all five break points she faced.