The first semi-final at the French Open has been decided.
Italian star Martina Trevisan is set to play American teenager Coco Gauff tomorrow for a place in the final at Roland-Garros.
Both Trevisan and Gauff are in the semi-final of a Grand Slam for the first time, but both are in very different stages of their respective careers.
It may seem as if Gauff has been on the WTA Tour for years, but she is only 18-years-old. She was thrust into the spotlight after beating Venus Williams in the first round of Wimbledon in 2019, before clinching her first WTA title at the Linz Open later that year.
In contrast, the 28-year-old Trevisan has been playing on the WTA Tour since 2016. She’s had a slow rise to top, winning her maiden WTA title in May and rising to a career-high singles ranking of world number 59.
Now, two years after reaching the quarter-final at Roland-Garros, Trevisan has gone one step further. Following a comprehensive 6-2, 6-4 victory over Leylah Fernandez in the last eight, the star is hoping to write her name into the French Open history books.
Who is Martina Trevisan?
Trevisan’s path to the top of women’s tennis has been a difficult one. She began playing on the ITF circuit in 2008, before reaching the French Open and Wimbledon semi-finals in the girls' doubles competitions in 2009.
The young star was struggling with anorexia, however. She stepped away from competitive tennis for four years, seeking professional treatment for her eating disorder.
Trevisan wrote about her experience in an article on the Italian website The Owl Post.
"I was re-educated to eat, to make peace with my wounds," she said. "To appreciate my new body, to forgive those who made mistakes and to find my time to do things."
Trevisan then began coaching at a local club, before finding her way back to competitive tennis in 2014.
She rarely appeared at Grand Slams, often failing to progress to the main draw from qualifying. This all changed in 2020, when Trevisan made her main draw debut at the Australian Open.
Although she fell to eventual winner Sofia Kenin in the opening round, Trevisan managed to enjoy an impressive run at the French Open just months later. She defeated Gauff, Maria Sakkari and fifth seed Kiki Bertens, before losing to Iga Świątek in the quarter-finals.
PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 31: Martina Trevisan of Italy plays a forehand against Leylah Fernandez of Canada during the Women's Singles Quarter Final match on Day 10 of The 2022 French Open at Roland Garros on May 31, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
An impressive 2022
Trevisan has impressed in 2022 so far, clinching her first title on the WTA Tour in May. She triumphed at the Rabat Open, a WTA 250 event, after defeating Claire Liu of the United States.
Her stunning form has continued at the French Open, where she has overcome Harriet Dart, Magda Linette, Daria Saville, Aliaksandra Sasnovich, and Fernandez. Her last victory was her 10th in a row.
Trevisan now faces a familiar opponent in Gauff, who she beat in the second round of the 2020 French Open. Can she pull off the feat again this year?