Svitolina fights off Gauff to win third Italian Open title

16 May 2026, 19:17 · CNA · Join

Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 16, 2026 Ukraine's Elina Svitolina celebrates with the trophy after winning the women's final match against Coco Gauff of the U.S. REUTERS/Claudia Greco

Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 16, 2026 Ukraine's Elina Svitolina reacts during the women's final match against Coco Gauff of the U.S. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca

Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 16, 2026 Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in action during the women's final match against Coco Gauff of the U.S. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca

Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 16, 2026 Ukraine's Elina Svitolina shakes hands with Coco Gauff of the U.S. after winning the women's final match. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca

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ROME, May 16 : Elina Svitolina signalled her French Open ambitions by battling past world number four Coco Gauff 6-4 6-7(3) 6-2 in the Italian Open final on Saturday to lift her first claycourt title of the season ahead of Roland Garros.

Svitolina twice battled from a break down to level a tight first set at 4-4, and the Ukrainian held on under huge pressure during exhausting rallies to get ahead in the ninth game with some powerful hitting.

A couple of untimely double faults from Gauff's racket in the next game gifted Svitolina the opening set, and the 31-year-old dialled up the intensity late in the next set to go within touching distance of a third Rome title.

Gauff, the reigning Roland Garros champion, held on bravely until 5-5 in the second set and then broke with a reflex volley at the net after a shot that clipped the netcord unsettled Svitolina and forced her into making a flat return.

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That joy was shortlived as Svitolina broke back immediately, but Gauff raised her game in the tiebreak to drag the match into deciding set, where there was little to separate the duo after the opening four games.

A backhand error from Gauff meant Svitolina sealed a vital break in the fifth game, and the Ukrainian pounced again for a double break, before holding her nerve in a tense finish to secure victory on her third matchpoint.

Svitolina will now bid to win her first Grand Slam title at the French Open, which gets underway in Paris on May 24.

Svitolina fights off Gauff to win third Italian Open title

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