Italian Open LIVE: Scintillating Svitolina wins thriller against Gauff to clinch third Rome title

[p][b]21:20 CET - [/b]That'll be all from our coverage today! We will be back tomorrow for the men's final, which could see some major history as Jannik Sinner takes on Casper Ruud.[/p][p][b]20:58 CET - [/b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/monfils-elina/jyngIesG/"]Elina Svitolina[/a] is a three-time Rome champion after an astonishing performance sees her clinch a thrilling [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/gauff-c-f5BXmEH6/svitolina-e-jyngIesG/?mid=hj88rrLj"]6-4, 6-7(4), 6-2[/a] win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gauff-coco/f5BXmEH6/"]Coco Gauff[/a] in two hours and 48 minutes![/p][p]The Ukrainian has completed a truly incredible run in the Italian capital, defeating world number two Elena Rybakina, world number three Iga Swiatek, and now world number four Gauff, on her way to the title.[/p][p]After losing a nail-biting second set and squandering several break-point opportunities, Svitolina remained cool and mentally locked in, fending off this tournament's comeback queen to get over the line.[/p][p]It is Svitolina's fifth WTA 1000 title and her first since she won in Rome in 2018. An amazing achievement for the 31-year-old, who is enjoying a stellar 2026. She is playing better than ever, and will move up to seventh in the world rankings![/p][p]Meanwhile, despite the defeat, it has been a great week and a half for Gauff. She played some of her best tennis in a while and was simply beaten by an inspired opponent. She has now finished as the runner-up in the last two Rome finals.[/p][p]She now heads into the French Open with plenty of reasons to be positive, as she looks to defend her title.[/p][embed guid="bf59aaa5-94f3-4c3f-b9d7-c2dfe4326c49" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2055726056456204753" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]20:17 CET - [/b]We are heading to a decider! [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gauff-coco/f5BXmEH6/"]Coco Gauff[/a] has once again showcased her incredible fighting qualities, winning the second set [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/gauff-c-f5BXmEH6/svitolina-e-jyngIesG/?mid=hj88rrLj"]7-6(4)[/a], despite being outplayed for large portions of it![/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/monfils-elina/jyngIesG/"]Elina Svitolina[/a] looked to be closing in on victory once or twice, but Gauff raised her level at the most important times, and now a final set will decide the champion of Rome.[/p][p][b]19:09 CET - [/b]Advantage, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/monfils-elina/jyngIesG/"]Elina Svitolina[/a]! The Ukrainian overcame a slow start, going a break down before reeling off four straight games to take the opener [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/gauff-c-f5BXmEH6/svitolina-e-jyngIesG/?mid=hj88rrLj"]6-4[/a]. [/p][p]She is a set away from her third Rome title, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gauff-coco/f5BXmEH6/"]Coco Gauff[/a] loves a comeback. Three times this tournament the American has battled from a set down. You cannot rule her out one bit.[/p][embed guid="2ea64e68-f813-4792-811c-ed4e35cf38a3" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2055697925309644869" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]18:06 CET -[/b] It's been more than an hour's delay, but we are all set for the women's final in Rome between Coco Gauff and Elina Svitolina.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/gauff-c-f5BXmEH6/svitolina-e-jyngIesG/?mid=hj88rrLj"]Follow every point right here.[/a][/p][p][b]17:49 CET - [/b]The rain has eased, and the sun is coming out... play should resume in the next 20 to 30 minutes![/p][p][b]17:08 CET - [/b]Unfortunately, there is a bit of a rain delay in Rome, so the players are not on court yet. We will keep you updated.[/p][p][b]16:45 CET - [/b]The women's final between [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gauff-coco/f5BXmEH6/"]Coco Gauff[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/monfils-elina/jyngIesG/"]Elina Svitolina[/a] is set to get underway in around 20 minutes, with the former eyeing her maiden Rome title, while the latter is looking to add to her 2017 and 2018 victories.[/p][p]Reigning French Open champion Gauff has beaten [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jovic-iva/bmWvBlnL/"]Iva Jovic[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/andreeva-mirra/lI6fOOat/"]Mirra Andreeva[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cirstea-sorana/fBPsm3Iq/"]Sorana Cirstea[/a] in the last three rounds, while Svitolina has enjoyed a stellar run. The Ukrainian has seen off both [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rybakina-elena/UDzElXdm/"]Elena Rybakina[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/swiatek-iga/jNyZsXZe/"]Iga Swiatek[/a], playing a thrilling brand of attacking tennis.[/p][p]Svitolina leads the head-to-head 3-2, including winning their last two meetings. However, they have never played on clay![/p][image alt="Gauff vs Svitolina H2H" id="159adfcc-085e-4e91-ac60-f80924091fcb" credit-line="Profimedia / Flashscore" guid="ebdc269b-aa9f-483c-a2a6-abcc96f54fa6" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]16:21 CET - [/b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sinner-jannik/6HdC3z4H/"]Jannik Sinner[/a] is through to the Italian Open final following a two-day battle with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/medvedev-daniil/O8qG0Nhb/"]Daniil Medvedev[/a]![/p][p]After their clash was postponed last night due to rain, Sinner came out this morning knowing he just needed to hold his serve twice more. And he did exactly that, winning [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/medvedev-d-O8qG0Nhb/sinner-j-6HdC3z4H/?mid=6XMkYEio"]6-2, 5-7, 6-4[/a] to set up a final with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ruud-casper/zN9UpRqp/"]Casper Ruud[/a].[/p][embed guid="495b0bfd-317b-4b7e-9cfe-34787c5a3eda" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2055656121885495341" social-type="twitter" /][p]Really, Sinner was most vulnerable yesterday, where he looked physically finished and running on fumes. The Italian made 19 unforced errors in the second set, compared to five in the first and six in the third, illustrating how much he was struggling.[/p][p]Credit has to go to Medvedev for how well he played, especially considering that clay is his least favourite surface. However, after the one-day break, it was always going to be a tough job for Medvedev today.[/p][image alt="Match stats" id="d47cef72-8650-4008-a11c-b11e14a4e2d8" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="7440af9d-d77a-43b6-91f1-03573aa0f480" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Ruud now stands in the way of a historic Career Golden Masters for Sinner. Only [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/djokovic-novak/AZg49Et9/"]Novak Djokovic[/a] has ever achieved the feat, and he was 31 when he did it. Sinner is 24![/p][p][b]15:45 CET - [/b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bolelli-simone/zuYo8TE1/"]Simone Bolelli[/a]/[a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vavassori-andrea/EVknmLDE/"]Andrea Vavassori[/a] have delighted the home crowd to book their spot in the Rome final, which means it is nearly time for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sinner-jannik/6HdC3z4H/"]Jannik Sinner[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/medvedev-daniil/O8qG0Nhb/"]Daniil Medvedev[/a] to finish off their semi-final.[/p][p]Reminder: Sinner leads 6-2, 5-7, 4-2, as he looks to set up a final against Casper Ruud.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/medvedev-d-O8qG0Nhb/sinner-j-6HdC3z4H/?mid=6XMkYEio"]Play will get started soon and you can follow the match with Flashscore![/a][/b][/p][embed guid="89155905-082d-4149-9be9-8efab2b5d121" url="https://x.com/InteBNLdItalia/status/2055643982512673227" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]14:58 CET - [/b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sinner-jannik/6HdC3z4H/"]Jannik Sinner[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/medvedev-daniil/O8qG0Nhb/"]Daniil Medvedev[/a] were due to resume their semi-final in Rome around now, but with the doubles semi between home favourites [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bolelli-simone/zuYo8TE1/"]Simone Bolelli[/a]/[a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vavassori-andrea/EVknmLDE/"]Andrea Vavassori[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/harrison-christian/tKNpgwfr/"]Christian Harrison[/a]/[a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/skupski-neal/KUAXIw8j/"]Neal Skupski[/a] still ongoing, that'll be slightly delayed.[/p][p][b]10:52 CET - [/b]A quick check of the weather radar ahead of today's play in Rome is not making for good viewing. There is rain around for much of the day in the Italian capital, so the players may be on and off the court. Remember, Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev have to finish off their semi-final before the women's final can begin.[/p][p]The makeup of yesterday's semi will not take place before 15:00 CET, as announced by the organisers, with the men's doubles final preceding that at 13:00 CET.[/p][embed guid="08a56f9e-f0bd-44c2-9919-252925dc910c" url="https://x.com/InteBNLdItalia/status/2055543776513544606" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]09:00 CET -[/b] Good morning and welcome to the business end of the Rome Masters and WTA 1000 events in Italy, where we are just a few points away from knowing who the final finalist will be.[/p][p]Last night, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sinner-jannik/6HdC3z4H/"]Jannik Sinner[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/medvedev-daniil/O8qG0Nhb/"]Daniil Medvedev[/a] were locked in a tight tussle before rain forced them off the court on Friday. The pair will be back on court this morning to see who will play [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ruud-casper/zN9UpRqp/"]Casper Ruud[/a] in Sunday's showpiece.[/p][p]It was a dramatic encounter on Friday, with a total of 57 winners from the pair, as Medvedev gave Sinner probably the toughest match of his historic run. It was abandoned last night after more than two hours of play at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/medvedev-d-O8qG0Nhb/sinner-j-6HdC3z4H/?mid=6XMkYEio"]6-2, 5-7, 4-2[/a] in favour of the Italian world number one.[/p][embed guid="a4927476-7b7b-4151-bcf3-abefbc0884a0" url="https://x.com/atptour/status/2055357664113099187" social-type="twitter" /][p]Once they are done, attention quickly switches to the women's final. After big guns, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sabalenka-aryna/vyhksgUB/"]Aryna Sabalenka[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/swiatek-iga/jNyZsXZe/"]Iga Swiatek[/a], fell to the wayside, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gauff-coco/f5BXmEH6/"]Coco Gauff[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/monfils-elina/jyngIesG/"]Elena Svitolina[/a] have risen to the top, contesting the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/gauff-c-f5BXmEH6/svitolina-e-jyngIesG/?mid=hj88rrLj"]final[/a] today from 17:00 CET.[/p][p]For American Gauff, this is her sixth final on clay, whilst the Ukrainian could become the first player to win three titles in Rome since 1990. But the form book does not give us much to go on, since these two have never faced each other on this surface.[/p][image alt="Coco Gauff and Elena Svitolina's last four results" id="5a1500c5-f431-406c-9473-f4e0e0000b6e" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="692247d4-53c8-4121-93ce-790c5a09a5ee" original-width="1080" original-height="1350" /][p]Both have been in sparkling form in Rome - who will lift the title later today?[/p]