Zheng Qinwen finally got her first win over Aryna Sabalenka at the seventh attempt to reach the Italian Open semi-finals on Wednesday and the Olympic champion said she had perhaps shown the world number one too much respect in their prior meetings.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is known for her playful presence on the tennis court, especially when she loses. The Belarusian has often shown her lighter side after losses, such as the Indian Wells final and the Australian Open final.

Kostyuk, known for her athleticism and fearless baseline play, roared back in the second set with renewed intensity. She matched Sabalenka shot for shot, pushed her out of rhythm, and even earned a set point, all while the fans on Court Centrale were on the edge of their seats.

Aryna Sabalenka has beaten Coco Gauff in straight sets to win her record-tying third Madrid Open. No. 1-ranked Sabalenka powered through the first set and edged the No. 4 American in a tiebreaker for 6-3,

Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka's boyfriend, Georgios Frangulis, was seen hailing Belarusian's chic looks as she enjoyed a night out in Rome amid the Italian Open 2025 campaign. The world number one will be facing Qinwen Zheng in the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters as the two WTA stars aim to seal the semi-final berth in this game.