Gauff stages fightback to avoid Rome upset

Last year’s finalist Coco Gauff shook of bad feelings and a double break in the deciding set to escape an upset on Saturday, with the American struggling into the fourth round of the Rome Masters.

The fourth seed who lost the 2025 final to Italian Jasmine Paolini – who went out at this edition 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 to Elise Mertens – needed some late battling to emerge with a 5-7, 6-0, 6-4 victory against Argentine Solana Sierra.

The American winner, who will be defending her Roland Garros title starting in a fortnight, required three match points to go through.

“It was a tough day for me, one one of those days where you don’t feel great and you have to play a match. 

“That was today – I’m happy I got through it.

“I just didn’t feel motivated to go on the court. Then when you’re on the court, you’re motivated and you get too frustrated.

Gauff tied her attitude to “off-court things I’m trying to get through.”

The Floridian went down a break to start the third set but took a 5-3 lead by winning five consecutive games in a comeback lasting for just over two hours.

The winner had 23 break chances, converting nine while committing more than 50 unforced errors; she lost her own serve six times as she managed to win her 19th match at the Foro Italico, moving her to 20-8 on the season.