Italian Open: Aryna Sabalenka, Alexander Zverev fall short of semis

ROME: Qinwen Zheng stunned world number one Aryna Sabalenka, while Lorenzo Musetti shocked defending champion Alexander Zverev to advance to the semi-final of the Italian Open here at the Foro Italico on Wednesday.

Zheng recorded her first win against Sabalenka, beating her 6-4, 6-3. The Olympic champion had lost all six previous matches against the world number one.

The eighth-ranked Zheng broke Sabalenka's serve three times and saved all five breakpoints she faced.

"I think, first of all, I say to myself, 'don't give her any free points', because I know when the rally gets longer, I have more benefit when I have four, five shots," Zheng said.

"Today when I stepped on the court, I say, I got to be there and hold my service game to don't make the match go away so fast.

"Seems like the tactic is working. When I really dedicate myself to the match, I feel I start to see everything clearly where I have to play."

Zheng will face Coco Gauff in the semi-final, who came over victorious against Mirra Andreeva 6-4, 7-6(5). 

Meanwhile, Italian Musetti shocked second seed Zverev 7-6 (1), 6-4 to progress further.  

Musetti enjoyed playing in front of the home crowd.   

"It was a great advantage all this week, the support from the crowd," Musetti said.

"It was part of the strategy to make things complicated for Sasha (Zverev). He's such a good hitter but he's a little far behind the baseline."

Musetti will play world number three Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-final, who beat Jack Draper in the quarter-finals.