Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina signaled 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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Victory over the American followed Svitolina’s wins over world number two Elena Rybakina and third-ranked Iga Swiatek, making her a strong contender to claim a maiden Grand Slam title in Paris, where the main draw begins on May 24.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Svitolina’s third title in the Italian capital comes eight years after her second successive triumph at the Foro Italico, a spell that included a maternity break in which she gave birth to her daughter with fellow player Gael Monfils in late 2022.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“It’s hard to believe it’s been eight years since I had \u2060this trophy here,” \u2060Reuters quoted Svitolina as saying.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“I’m very pleased with my two weeks here. Congratulations to Coco for a great tournament. You’re such a great champion, and I hope we can have more battles in the future.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Seventh seed Svitolina twice came from a break down to level a tight first set at 4-4 against Gauff, and the Ukrainian held on under huge pressure during exhausting rallies to get ahead in the ninth game with some powerful hitting.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
A couple of untimely double faults from Gauff’s \u2060racket in the next game gifted Svitolina the opening set, and the 31-year-old dialed up the intensity late in the next set to go within touching distance of a third Rome title.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
That joy was short-lived as Svitolina broke back immediately, but Gauff raised her game in the tiebreak to drag the match into a deciding set, where there was little to separate the duo after the opening four games.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
A backhand error from Gauff meant Svitolina sealed a vital break in the fifth game, \u2060and the Ukrainian \u2060pounced again for a double break, before holding her nerve in a tense finish to secure victory on her third match point.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Svitolina later thanked Ukrainians back home as the country continues to grapple with war following Russia’s 2022 invasion.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“Many of them are in bomb shelters and it’s been really heavy in the past couple of weeks for Ukraine,” she added.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“I want to thank you for all the support from afar, I feel all the love.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
A distraught Gauff was left to digest her third straight defeat by Svitolina, following losses in the Australian Open quarter-finals and Dubai semi-finals this year.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“Another tough battle between us. I’m on the other side but hopefully one of these days I can get over that,” Gauff said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“You had an incredible tournament with a lot of long matches against great players, so congratulations to you and your team.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“Hopefully I’ll see you at the French Open, in the final.”<\/p>\n