World No. 7 Zheng Qinwen triumphed in a highly anticipated encounter against Naomi Osaka at the Italian Open. This match carried extra weight due to the presence of Wim Fisette, Osaka’s current coach, who previously coached Zheng. While Zheng’s coach, Pere Riba, might have a metaphorical “score to settle” against his former prodigy Coco Gauff, their upcoming match is likely to be free of animosity as Riba was the one who chose to step down from coaching Gauff. The real battle on the court will likely be a grueling one. Both Zheng and Gauff are known for their exceptional fitness, and we can expect long rallies.

Coco Gauff vs Qinwen Zheng: Preview

The American tennis prodigy started the clay court swing season with her participation at the Stuttgart and Madrid Opens. Now entering another clay-court event as the third seed, Coco Gauff outclassed the likes of Magdalena Fręch, Jaqueline Cristian, and Paula Badosa to reach the latter round in Rome.

Qinwen Zheng, on the other hand, is coming to the Italian Open after her injury struggles on her right thigh, which also forced her to withdraw from the Madrid Open. The Chinese tennis player now seems to have found her momentum on the court as she reached the quarterfinals after overcoming the likes of  Naomi Osaka, Linda Nosková, and Shelby Rogers.

Coco Gauff vs Qinwen Zheng: Head-to-Head

Prediction: Gauff to clinch a close win against Zheng in Rome

The current world number 3 player recently managed to convert a remarkable 81% of points on her first serve during her recent clay match in Rome. Qinwen Zheng, on the other hand, had a 78-win percentage rate on her first serves during her round of 16 against Osaka. In their previous matches at the Italian Open, Gauff managed to hit 3 aces and 11 double faults, compared to 2 and 0 for Zheng. Aside from these metrics, Gauff’s brilliant cross-court backhand shots and 59/23 record on the clay will make her the favorite to win this quarterfinal against Zheng, who is coming back to the tour after an injury.

While Gauff showed impressive grit in her last match against Badosa, her ongoing struggles with consistency remain a concern. Her backhand, or “off-wing,” has historically been a source of vulnerability. Now, it seems her serve, a crucial weapon for any player, might also be a cause for worry. The high number of double faults (11) against Badosa, despite a decent first-serve percentage (37%), highlights this inconsistency. However, it’s important to credit her fighting spirit. Gauff’s aggressive approach, despite the serving issues, proved effective against Badosa. Fueled by this same fighting spirit, Gauff is likely to push Zheng to the limit in a closely contested match.