Svitolina Defeats Gauff to Claim Italian Open After Eight-Year Drought

When facing the toughest opponents in the world, too often in her past Elina Svitolina played not to lose, a tendency that cost her in decisive moments of important matches.

Now at 31, after years of tough losses and great successes, Svitolina has learned to dictate play on her own terms, evolving into a bolder, more decisive player.

She showcased this transformation by defeating Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2 in a grueling three-set final to capture her first significant title in eight years at the Italian Open.

This victory, her third in Rome and first WTA 1000 title since 2018, marks a deserved milestone for Svitolina, one of the most consistent players this season.

She earned the crown with a spectacular run, defeating world No. 2 Elena Rybakina, No. 3 Iga Swiatek, and No. 4 Gauff in consecutive matches—the oldest player to beat three top-five opponents in a WTA 1000 event since 1990.

“This is one of the toughest draws I had in a tournament,” Svitolina said. “I’m very proud of the way I’ve been handling myself and the nerves and being consistent. It’s important to show good consistency throughout the year. That’s the way I’m aiming to be.”

Svitolina heads to Roland Garros as the No. 7 seed, but the WTA Race standings—where she sits at No. 3 behind Aryna Sabalenka and Rybakina—better reflect her form.

Her resurgence highlights the increased level on the WTA tour over the past decade; despite reaching a career-high ranking of No. 3 in 2017 and winning the WTA Finals in 2018, she is now playing the best tennis of her career.

Gauff, who converted only three of 17 break points, expressed frustration after finishing as runner-up for the second consecutive year.

“It is disappointing because I remember last year in the final I was just tired from my semi-final,” Gauff said. “This year I felt like I was playing good, then every time I had an opportunity, playing bad. For me it’s just more of a mental thing that I have to learn from.”

The final was a gripping physical and tactical battle, with Gauff initially holding the upper hand—generating three break points at 4-2 for a double break and leading 40-0 on her serve at 4-3.

But Gauff’s serve, solid all week, unravelled late in the first set, and Svitolina applied sustained pressure on the second serve, injecting pace into her forehand to win four consecutive games and take the set.

In the men’s draw, Jannik Sinner advanced to the final against Casper Ruud after a rain-interrupted 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 win over Daniil Medvedev.

World No. 1 Sinner can win a record-extending sixth Masters 1000 title after a match that had almost everything over two and a half hours.

During Friday’s suspended semi-final, Sinner required treatment on his right thigh and vomited but looked refreshed before Saturday’s restart, joking with his coaching staff during warm-up as sunshine appeared.

The restart was delayed by an hour due to rain and the men’s doubles semi-final, won by Sinner’s compatriots Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori.

Sinner held a 4-2 lead in the third set when play resumed and quickly sealed his 33rd straight win in top-ranked ATP tournaments, closing the match in under 20 minutes after Medvedev initially held advantage.

Ruud earned a chance at revenge after dismantling Luciano Darderi 6-1, 6-1 on Saturday in another rain-interrupted match; the Norwegian has never won a set against Sinner in four matches, including a 6-0, 6-1 loss here in 2025.

In the second set, Gauff reset and played her best tennis when down, stepping inside the court in the tie-break and using greater width and spin to pull Svitolina off balance.

By the third set, momentum shifted to Gauff, but Svitolina responded with bravery—forcing a break point at 2-1 and lasering a forehand winner down the line to reclaim control.

She dominated the remainder of the set with aggressive forehands, dictating terms and securing a victory that marks her return to the elite, with 20 career WTA titles now to her name.