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Elina Svitolina signaled her French Open ambitions by defeating Coco Goff 6-4 6-7 (3-7) 6-2 in the Italian Open final to win her first clay-court title of the season ahead of Roland Garros.
The 31-year-old from Ukraine had already upset world No. 2 Elena Rybakina and No. 3 Iga Suatek before a stunning No. 4 gaffe in Saturday’s final to complete a remarkable week in the Italian capital.
Svitolina, who returns to the WTA Tour in 2023, will now bid for her first Grand Slam title at the French Open, which begins on May 24 in Paris.
Svitolina had already knocked Goff out of the Australian Open and the Dubai Tennis Championships this year and dominated in Rome as soon as she took the first set.
Goff roared to a second edge in the tie-breaker before the third went Svitolina’s way after a sensational backhand in the seventh game helped her to a famous victory.
Svitolina – who gave birth to daughter Skye in October 2022 – said Sky Sports Tennis: “It’s been a tough two weeks here. There were some big fights, big matches, late night matches where I was going to bed at five in the morning.
“Losing the second set was really painful but I tried to refocus and go again. Coco is a great fighter and she always comes with a fighting spirit so I tried to stay mentally strong.”
Svitolina twice fought back from break downs to level the first set at 4-4 and the Ukrainian was under immense pressure during a tiring rally with some powerful hitting to advance to the ninth game.
Some ill-timed double faults off Gauff’s racket in the next game gifted Svitolina the opening set, and the 31-year-old dialed up the intensity late in the next set to move within touching distance of a third Rome title.
Gough, the reigning French Open champion, bravely held to 5-5 in the second set and then broke through with a reflex volley at the net that unsettled Svitolina with a shot that clipped the net cord and forced her to return flat.
That joy was short-lived as Svitolina broke back immediately, but Goff picked up her game in the tiebreak to drag the match to a deciding set, with nothing separating the pair after the opening four games.
A backhand error from Goff meant Svitolina sealed a crucial break in the fifth game, and the Ukrainian pushed back for a double break before holding her nerve in a thrilling finish to secure victory on her third match point in two hours and 49 minutes.
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Former British No. 1 Laura Robson, speaking Sky Sports Tennis: “It’s been his resilience throughout the week but it would have been easy to let himself down after that second set breaker. But I thought he had control of the match and to compete in such tough conditions – it’s really heavy clay here – it wasn’t easy at all and it looked a bit nerve-wracking at times, but we really saw – some fantastic players, especially from El Tennis.”
Four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Tim Henman said: “Courage and conviction to keep going with his shots. He was going for the ball when he got the chance, so just an outstanding win and who he beat! Going into Roland-Garros with a win like that, he’s going to fantasize about his chances.
“When you think about Grand Slams, he’s been in four semifinals, you have to think he’s got aspirations of going to a big final, and that kind of tennis, that kind of confidence and belief to beat the best players, why not?”
Watch Jannik Sinar v Casper Rudd in the men’s final from 3.30pm, Sky Sports or Live Stream with NOW And The Sky Sports appSky Sports is giving subscribers access to more than 50 per cent of live games at no extra cost this year. Learn more here.
