Coco Gauff and Zheng Qinwen were locked in a tightly contested battle that had seen the American edge out the first set in a tiebreak and Zheng claw back the second 6-4. However, it was in the early stages of the third set that the match had its most memorable moment- not through a blazing winner or a marathon rally, but through unfiltered humor.

Coco Gauff served to an empty court at one stage during her Italian Open semi-final showdown with Qinwen Zheng after her opponent had left her position to change her racket. The match proved to be a scintillating affair, with Gauff coming out on top after a tiebreak in the deciding set.

Coco Gauff needed three and a half hours to get past Zheng Qinwen in three sets Thursday to reach the Italian Open final, where she'll face Jasmine Paolini.