The WTA crowned Coco Gauff’s marathon victory over Zheng Qinwen at the 2025 Italian Open semifinal as Match of the Year, but the decision has sparked heated debate across tennis social media. The three-hour-and-32-minute encounter unfolded past midnight on Rome’s Campo Centrale, leaving fans divided about whether the match’s length and drama justified the prestigious honor.
The Italian Open Semi-Final Between Coco Gauff and Zheng Qinwen
Days after the WTA announced the nominations, Gauff’s hard-fought 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(4) victory over Zheng in the Italian Open semifinals was voted as the Match of the Year, recognizing the marathon as one of the tournament’s defining moments. The American battled back from 3-5 down in the third set to advance to her first Italian Open final.
However, Gauff committed 82 unforced errors while managing just 27 winners, compiling a concerning 16 double faults that underscored her service struggles throughout the night. Zheng’s performance was equally problematic, as she sprayed 74 unforced errors across the match while recording only 22 winners, demonstrating the erratic nature of play from both sides of the net.
The serving statistics painted an equally troubling picture. Gauff won just 60% of her first serve points and 53% of her second serve points, while Zheng managed even weaker numbers, winning only 51% of her first serve points and 43% of her second serve points. Between them, the two players hit a combined total of just 49 winners across all three sets, a staggering low for players of their caliber competing at such an elite level.
Additionally, there were 19 breaks of serve throughout the match, with Gauff converting 9 of 17 break point opportunities while Zheng managed 10 conversions out of 27 break point chances.
The match sparked immediate outrage on social media platforms, with fans taking to X to voice their disappointment. Many critics labeled it “one of the worst” matches they had witnessed in 2025. According to the fans, the overwhelming number of unforced errors and poor decision-making from both players made for uncomfortable viewing.
How Did the Fans React to WTA Awards?
The overwhelming response from the tennis community on social media shifted focus away from Gauff’s comeback victory and instead centered on the concerning level of play that defined the overnight spectacle. What the WTA presented as the year’s most memorable match became a talking point for all the wrong reasons. Passionate debate erupted about whether an award should recognize marathon length and dramatic moments or prioritize actual quality and skill on the court.
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Talking about the quality of gameplay, one fan wrote, “It was probably the ugliest match of the season. With record-breaking unforced error stats. It should be hidden very deaply by the WTA because it was not a good advertisement for women’s tennis at all. Big downgrade to the match of the year from 2024 (Rome final).”
It was probably the ugliest match of the season. With record-breaking unforced error stats. It should be hidden very deaply by the WTA because it was not a good advertisement for women’s tennis at all. Big downgrade to the match of the year from 2024 (Rome final).
— Izabella Badura (@IzaBadura) December 15, 2025
“are they actively trying to sabotage women’s sports,” wrote a fan who was not happy with the decision.
are they actively trying to sabotage women’s sports https://t.co/9O7t3ChJHr
— ani (@lordelenker) December 15, 2025
Totally disagreeing with the decision, another fan wrote, “It’s actually one of the worst matches of the year, especially with the amount of errors. Match of the year 😂😂😂💩💩💩”
It’s actually one of the worst matches of the year, especially with the amount of errors. Match of the year 😂😂😂💩💩💩 https://t.co/bF6bci3Ft1
— Nigel Margett (@Nigel_The_Ram) December 15, 2025
Another fan made fun of the announcement by writing, “A match with 300 unforced errors. Sure WTA. 😂”
A match with 300 unforced errors. Sure WTA. 😂 https://t.co/hRAMpDOBFv
— adri | 🐯👑 (@radulenkawta) December 15, 2025
“just because a match is 4 hours doesn’t it good. i mean come on, 156 unforced errors with just 49 winners. if you ask both qinwen and coco they would say it isn’t the match of the year lol,” complained a fan who wasn’t satisfied with the decision.
just because a match is 4 hours doesn’t it good. i mean come on, 156 unforced errors with just 49 winners. if you ask both qinwen and coco they would say it isn’t the match of the year lol. https://t.co/ixFW8vJvHf
— m (@goatrenka) December 15, 2025
One fan didn’t hold back from the disappointing decision and used strong language to express their feelings, writing, “Was it a good match? No. Absolutely f*****g not it was straight terrorism. But was it memorable? Yeah. So I think f**k it maybe it match of the year 😭😭😭”
Was it a good match? No. Absolutely fucking not it was straight terrorism. But was it memorable? Yeah. So I think fuck it maybe it match of the year 😭😭😭 https://t.co/oHSDyINJgJ
— Chloe 💫 (@Igaclayblev) December 15, 2025
Another fan joined the conversation with a funny video clip, stating that they do not want to “relive the match”
“relive the full match”pic.twitter.com/KAjU9XhZEc https://t.co/V2ixEDK3yO
— Raj 🍁 (@RajBhandari1001) December 15, 2025
The WTA Awards honoring the Gauff-Zheng semifinal as Match of the Year remains divisive, with the tennis community questioning whether marathon duration and dramatic moments should outweigh consistent quality and technical excellence.