(Video) Angry Aryna Sabalenka Yells ‘Shut the F**k Up’ at Spectator During Italian Open Quarterfinal Against Qinwen Zheng

Qinwen Zheng ended Aryna Sabalenka's winning streak and became the second Chinese woman to reach the Italian Open semifinals.

(Video) Angry Aryna Sabalenka Yells ‘Shut the F**k Up’ at Spectator During Italian Open Quarterfinal Against Qinwen Zheng

Aryna Sabalenka lost her cool during the Italian Open quarterfinals (Image via X/The Tennis Letter, Sports China)

Aryna Sabalenka was denied a chance to take home back-to-back Madrid and Italian Open titles by Qinwen Zheng, who, on Wednesday (May 14), clinched a 6-4, 6-3 win in the quarterfinals in Rome. During the second set, Sabalenka lost her cool and shouted at a spectator.

Zheng, after taking the lead by claiming the first set, continued her winning ways in the second. She had won the first game of the second set and was about to serve when she stopped mid-way. A fan urged Sabalenka to “play tennis” and as a response, the 27-year-old shouted, “Shut the f**k up!“

Watch the video here:

Zheng snapped Sabalenka’s nine-match winning streak on the surface. The 22-year-old has now become the second Chinese woman after Li Na (runner-up in 2012) to advance to the semifinals in the Italian WTA 1000 event.

Before Rome, Sabalenka lifted her third Madrid Open title by beating Coco Gauff. The World No.1 also captured her first Sunshine Double singles title this year after moving past home favorite Jessica Pegula in Miami.

In Rome, Sabalenka was chasing her fourth title of the season following her victories in Brisbane, Miami, and Madrid. Apart from these three titles, Sabalenka also progressed to the finals of the Australian Open, Indian Wells, and the Stuttgart Open.

Qinwen Zheng shares the key to her success against Aryna Sabalenka

Before the Italian Open, Qinwen Zheng had played against Aryna Sabalenka six times but the result of all the matches ended up in the latter’s favor. All of these matches were held on the hard courts, including one at the indoor hard court.

Aryna Sabalenka and Qinwen Zheng (via WTA)
Aryna Sabalenka and Qinwen Zheng (via WTA)

But their seventh match was held on clay and Zheng prevailed. After the match, Zheng too said that the surface probably helped her beat the Belarusian.

First of all, I kept telling myself over and over that I should not give her a single point. I know that when the rally gets longer, once we pass 4-to-5 shots, my benefits increase. When I look at the statistics, I am always there, maybe because on clay, the game becomes much more physical, perhaps that’s why I have an advantage.

Qinwen Zheng said at the press conference

Zheng has now set up a semifinal clash with Coco Gauff, who went past Mirra Andreeva in straight sets. The World No.8 has faced the 2023 US Open champion twice, losing both matches. Their semifinal match will be their second encounter on clay following last year’s Rome Open quarterfinal.

While Gauff reached the final in Madrid before Rome, Zheng got knocked out of her opening round. Before Rome, Gauff and Zheng lost their respective quarterfinal matches in Stuttgart and Charleston.

Qinwen Zheng is confident about her French Open chances

Qinwen Zheng has never progressed beyond the fourth round at the French Open, producing her best in 2022. But she has clinched the biggest title of her career at Roland Garros.

Qinwen Zheng
Qinwen Zheng (via X/The Tennis Letter)

Last year, after upsetting four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek in the semifinals, the Chinese ace beat Donna Vekic in the final to clinch the gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Zheng, after beating Aryna Sabalenka, said she is confident of her chances in the clay-court Major.

I am usually a very confident player, no matter if I have a bad performance at times. I know that if I am focused if I am truly there and want to achieve it, I will.

Qinwen Zheng said at the press conference

Last year at the French Open, Elina Avanesyan knocked Zheng out of the third round. Apart from the French Open and Paris Olympics, Zheng, on the clay swing last year, failed to reach the semifinals in the rest of the tournaments.

Also read: Coco Gauff Oozing With “A Lot of Confidence” After Beating Mirra Andreeva to Reach the Semifinals of the Italian Open