Zheng Qinwen has finally done it as the world No. 8 registered her maiden win over Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 6-3 to progress into the Rome Open semifinal. Entering the Rome quarterfinal, the Chinese had been 0-6 against the Belarusian.

Zheng Qinwen earned her first win over World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in their seventh all-time encounter in Rome, advancing to the semifinals with a 6-4, 6-3 victory.

Zheng Qinwen decided to tell a story about meeting Aryna Sabalenka for the first time when she was just 14 and how "not treating the Belarusian like a normal player" impacted their early matches.

Coco Gauff slightly preferred to play Aryna Sabalenka in the Rome Open semifinal simply because she felt confident and wanted to get revenge over the world No. 1 but then the Belarusian lost her quarterfinal match.

No. 4 seed Coco Gauff will face No. 6 Jasmine Paolini for the WTA 1000 Internazionali BNL d’Italia title on Saturday at 5 p.m. local (11 a.m. ET). Here’s everything you need to know.

Last summer, Iga Swiatek was Zheng’s mountaintop. When they met in the semifinals at the Paris Olympics, she was 0-6 against the Pole. But that was Zheng’s day to scale the mountain, and get her first win over her nemesis.

Olympic gold-medal champion Zheng Qinwen beat No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka for the first time, 6-4, 6-3, to set up a Rome semifinal vs. Coco Gauff. Photo credit: Internazionali BNL d'Italia Facebook Sailing another forehand,

Zheng Qinwen secures another strong performance at the Rome Open, defeating Bianca Andreescu 7-5, 6-1 to reach the quarterfinals of the tournament for the third consecutive year.