Coco Gauff Advances to Italian Open Semifinals After Thrilling Match
Coco Gauff's Remarkable Victory
File image of Coco Gauff (Photo: @WeAreTennisTR/X)
Rome, May 13: Coco Gauff, currently ranked third in the world, showcased her resilience by overcoming Mirra Andreeva to secure her place in the semifinals of the Italian Open for the fourth time in her career.
Despite holding a commanding 5-1 lead in the third set, Gauff faced a tough challenge from the eighth seed Andreeva, ultimately clinching the match with a score of 4-6, 0-2, 6-4 after needing five match points.
This victory marks Gauff's 15th semifinal appearance at the 1000-level WTA Tour events and her third in 2026, following her performances in Dubai and Miami. She becomes only the second player in the Open Era to achieve three or more comeback wins to reach the Italian Open, a feat previously accomplished by Nathalie Tauziat in 1989.
As the 2025 Rome finalist, Gauff is set to face Sorana Cirstea next, vying for a spot in the 2026 final. This will be their third encounter this season, with matches occurring in consecutive tournaments.
In the first set, Andreeva initially took a 3-1 lead and demonstrated her skill by targeting Gauff effectively at the net and executing precise shots. The first set was tightly contested, with Andreeva recording 10 winners against seven unforced errors, while Gauff had the opposite statistics, according to WTA reports.
Gauff quickly established a 3-0 lead in the second set, maintaining her advantage throughout. Frustration mounted for Andreeva, who rushed her serves and committed 11 unforced errors, allowing Gauff to force a decisive third set.
Initially, it appeared Gauff would dominate, leading 5-1 with a double break. She capitalized on her momentum from the second set, utilizing her speed and benefiting from Andreeva's errors. However, just when it seemed she was on the verge of a straightforward victory, the dynamics of the match shifted.