ROME, May 16 – Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina demonstrated her preparation for the upcoming French Open by defeating world number four Coco Gauff 6-4 6-7(3) 6-2 during Saturday’s Italian Open championship match, capturing her first clay court tournament victory this season before Roland Garros begins.
The Ukrainian competitor recovered from being behind twice in the opening set to even the score at 4-4, then maintained her composure during grueling exchanges to take the lead in the ninth game through aggressive shot-making.
Several poorly-timed double faults by Gauff during the following game handed Svitolina the first set, and the 31-year-old increased her aggressive play late in the second set as she approached her third Rome championship.
The current Roland Garros titleholder Gauff persevered until the score reached 5-5 in the second set, then secured a break with an instinctive net volley after a ball that touched the net cord disrupted Svitolina’s positioning and caused an unsuccessful return.
Gauff’s momentum proved brief as Svitolina immediately broke serve again, though the American elevated her performance during the tiebreak to force a third and final set, where both players remained closely matched through the first four games.
A backhand mistake by Gauff allowed Svitolina to capture a crucial break in the fifth game, and the Ukrainian struck again for a second break advantage before maintaining her composure during a dramatic conclusion to claim victory on her third match point.
Svitolina will next attempt to capture her first Grand Slam championship at the French Open, which begins in Paris on May 24.
