Epic Marathon: Coco Gauff wins longest-ever Rome Open match against Zheng Qinwen

Coco Gauff secured an epic victory over Zheng Qinwen at the Rome Open 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(4), to earn her spot in the Rome Open final. The duel was the longest match in WTA Rome Open history, with three hours and 33 minutes of play.

The American defeated the Chinese player for the third time to reach back-to-back finals, having achieved the same stage at the Madrid Open two weeks ago. It will be the 4th WTA 1000 final for Gauff and she will seek the title against local favorite Jasmine Paolini.

With the score 2-0 in Gauff's favor, Zheng began to find her rhythm in the match and reduced her errors to secure a break on her first chance. At 2-2, Gauff recovered from 0-40, but a double fault appeared at the worst moment and ended up conceding the break to Zheng, who moved ahead 3-2.

However, the Paris 2024 gold medalist could not maintain the momentum, and without effectiveness on her first serves, gave Gauff space to recover. The American responded with two consecutive breaks and moved ahead 5-3, with the opportunity to serve to close out the set.

When everything seemed lost, Zheng secured a break that brought her back to life in the set, and then confidently held her serve to level the score at 5-5, while Gauff showed the first signs of frustration and conceded a second consecutive break. The rollercoaster continued when Zheng faced problems closing out the set, and two double faults ended up helping Gauff to send everything to a tie-break. Double faults appeared again from both sides, but the American was the one who maintained her composure to close out the set 7-6(3).

Zheng managed to reset things and entered the second set with conviction, winning a couple of service games easily and securing an early break that took her to 3-0. Gauff began to show improvements on her serve and brought the score to 4-2, at which point a rollercoaster of breaks from both sides began.

Zheng served at 5-3 but ended up conceding her serve. When Gauff served to equalize, Zheng secured the break that ultimately gave her the set 6-4 after 56 minutes. The world No. 8 made up for her poor 37% first serve percentage with good return games, winning 3/6 break points she had in her favor.

From the beginning of the third set, Zheng again showed her problems on first serve, which throughout the match remained at around just 50% first serve in. Gauff this time took the opportunity and secured an early break. However, Zheng responded with a break back after Gauff saved up to three opportunities against her.

Break points were played in practically every game, and Gauff was ahead twice. However, after the American was up 3-2, Zheng won a couple of important points in long rallies that seemed to demoralize the former US Open champion. The Olympic gold medalist won three consecutive games and served for the match, but a final reaction from Gauff would come, as she secured the break and regained hope.

From one minute to the next, things took a turn when Gauff leveled the score at 5-5 with a love service game. Both players showed their quality on serve to take everything to an epic tie-break, in which the world No. 3 was the one who maintained her composure better, took an early lead, and ended up securing one of the most epic victories of her career 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(4), in the longest match in WTA Rome Open history, after three hours and 30 minutes of play.