Italian Open 2024: Coco Gauff vs Qinwen Zheng; Preview, Head-to-Head, and Prediction

Following some incredible showdowns in the initial round contests, a high-profile match between the two top-seeded participants is about to take place at the Italian Open. In a blockbuster quarterfinal, the reigning Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff will square off against the current number 7 player, Qinwen Zheng.

The Internazionali BNL d’Italia is another exciting clay court tournament that is part of the WTA 1000 category and features players of high caliber. Now that the likes of Gauff and Zheng will be looking to book a place in the semifinals, it will be fascinating to see who prevails in this spectacular match at the Foro Italico.

Coco Gauff vs Qinwen Zheng: Italian Open quarterfinal match 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

The quarterfinal match between Coco Gauff and Qinwen Zheng at this season’s Italian Open will also mark their first meeting on the women’s circuit. With no previous meetings between Gauff and Zheng, their H2H record is currently locked at 0-0.

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

The current 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. Who do you think will prevail in this high-profile quarterfinal between Coco Gauff and Qinwen Zheng? Let us know in the comments section.