ROME, May 15 (Xinhua) -- China's Zheng Qinwen was eliminated in the semifinals of the WTA Italian Open on Thursday, as she lost to Coco Gauff 2-1 in a nearly four-hour battle.

Having knocked out top seed Aryna Sabalenka for the first-time in her career at the quarterfinals, Zheng was narrowly beaten in the first set in a tiebreak 7-6 (3), but Zheng drew level with a 6-4 in the second set.

Zheng had led 5-3 in the third set, but Gauff pushed the match to another tiebreak and eventually sealed the win with 7-6 (4).

Gauff will meet Jasmine Paolini in the final.■