Svitolina seals Rome hat-trick with defeat of Gauff

Elina Svitolina fought off Coco Gauff to hand the American a second straight loss in a final of the Rome Masters with the winner claiming a moral victory for Ukraine 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2.on Saturday.

The defeat in more than two and three-quarter hours was the second in a row here for Gauff, who was defeated by Jasmine Paolini in the 2025 final.

Svitolina joins Iga Swiatek as a three-time champion at the Foro Italico after her fighting win. Chris Evert holds the all-time record of five Rome titles.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been eight years since I held this trophy,” Svitolina said. “I’m pleased with the weeks here.

“It was tough to lose the Dubai final (February), I was hoping to have a round number of trophies (now 20). 

“I want to thank the people back in Ukraine who have been supporting me. It’s been really heavy (drone attacks) for the past few weeks there. I feel all the love.”

 Svitolina staged a comeback in the third set, breaking reigning Roland Garros champion Gauff twice  but needing three match points to get the job done as she put a volley into the empty court past the American.

 Svitlona last won the Foro Italico trophy in 2018 after also triumphing the year before. She and Gauff have met three times this season, with the Ukrainian mother of one claiming the 2026 victory hat-trick in the series.

Gauff was competing in her second final of the season after losing in Miami to world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.

Svitolina has been on fire over the past 72 hours in Rome, defeating top four rivals Elena Rybakina and Swiatek in her previous two matches.

The Ukrainian won the Auckland ittle during the first week of the year.

Gauf is already looking ahead to her French Open title defence starting next Sunday in Paris.

“I could have played better in some moments today, I feel the momentum going into Paris.

“There were lessons learned from this match, we keep going.”