Elina Svitolina beats Coco Gauff in Rome

Elina Svitolina won the Italian Open in Rome on May 16, beating Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2 in a final that lasted nearly three hours. The title was Svitolina’s third in Rome and her first at WTA 1000 level since becoming a mother, according to the WTA. The Ukrainian also became the first woman to win three Rome titles at age 31 or older, the tour said. Gauff, the 2025 French Open champion, lost in the Rome final for the second straight year. ### How did Svitolina turn the match after Gauff’s fast start? Coco Gauff opened strongly at the Foro Italico and broke twice to lead 2-0 and then 4-2 in the first set, according to the WTA’s match report. Elina Svitolina broke back both times and held through a pivotal ninth game after saving three break points before breaking again to take the set 6-4. (wtatennis.com) The second set stayed close and went to a tiebreak, which Gauff won to force a decider. Elina Svitolina then pulled away in the third set to close out the match 6-2. Official WTA match stats showed Svitolina won 127 of 242 total points and converted 6 of 15 break points, while Gauff converted 3 of 17. ### What did the win add to Svitolina’s record in Rome? (wtatennis.com) Elina Svitolina had previously won the Italian Open in 2017 and 2018, making Saturday’s victory her third title at the event after an eight-year gap. The WTA said the win gave her a 20th career singles title and made her the first Ukrainian player, man or woman, to reach that mark on tour. (wtatennis.com) Rome has been one of Svitolina’s strongest stops on clay. The WTA said she had not reached the final there since 2018 before this week, when she advanced by beating Iga Swiatek in the semifinals. ### Which opponents did Svitolina beat on the way to the trophy? (wtatennis.com) Elina Svitolina’s path through Rome included wins over Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff in her last three matches, according to tournament coverage from Tennis.com and The Athletic. Tennis.com reported that run included victories over three of the Top 4 players in the WTA rankings across the closing rounds. (wtatennis.com) Coco Gauff had reached the final after beating Sorana Cirstea in straight sets in the semifinal. The WTA said that result sent Gauff into her second consecutive Rome final and the 16th final of her tour career. ### What did Gauff say after another Rome final loss? Coco Gauff told reporters after the match that she had played “way too passive,” according to the WTA’s post-match coverage index. (tennis.com) The WTA also said Gauff described her week in Rome as offering a lesson before she begins her French Open title defense. (wtatennis.com) The result left Gauff short of a first Rome title after she was runner-up there in 2025 as well. Associated Press reported that she became a losing finalist in Rome for the second straight year. ### Why does the result matter before Paris? (wtatennis.com) The Italian Open is one of the main clay-court events before Roland Garros, and both finalists now head toward Paris after deep runs in Rome. Elina Svitolina’s WTA player record lists five previous French Open quarterfinal appearances, while Coco Gauff arrived in Rome as the defending French Open champion, according to outside tournament coverage. (msn.com) The French Open is scheduled to begin on May 24, 2026, in Paris. The women’s singles draw will show where Svitolina and Gauff land in the bracket as the clay-court season moves from Rome to Roland Garros. (wtatennis.com)