Svitolina wins third Italian Open title, beats Gauff 6-4, 6-7, 6-2
Synopsis
Elina Svitolina did not just win a clay-court final — she beat three of the top four seeds in the same draw, including Rybakina and Swiatek, before outlasting Gauff in a three-set thriller. Her third Italian Open title and 20th WTA crown signal a Ukrainian champion who refuses to be written off.
Key Takeaways
Elina Svitolina defeated Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2 in the Italian Open women's final on 17 May in Rome .
The match lasted two hours and 49 minutes — Svitolina's third Italian Open singles title.
The victory is Svitolina's 20th WTA singles title of her career.
Svitolina eliminated second seed Elena Rybakina and fourth seed Iga Swiatek en route to the final.
In the men's draw, world No.
1 Jannik Sinner beat Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 to reach Sunday's final against Casper Ruud .
Elina Svitolina claimed her third Italian Open women's singles title on Saturday, 17 May, defeating Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2 in a gruelling final that lasted two hours and 49 minutes in Rome. The seventh seed's victory is also her 20th WTA singles title, underscoring her status as one of the most resilient players on the clay circuit.
How the Final Unfolded
Svitolina found herself in early trouble, trailing 4-2 in the opening set against the third-seeded American. The match turned decisively in the eighth game, when Gauff double-faulted twice after building a 40-0 lead, gifting Svitolina a crucial break. The Ukrainian then saved three break points in the ninth game to consolidate and close out the set 6-4.
The second set was fiercely contested. Gauff broke in the 11th game, but Svitolina immediately broke back when the American served for the set, forcing a tiebreak. Gauff lifted her level when it mattered most, winning the tiebreak 7-3 to level the match at one set apiece.
Svitolina Dominates the Decider
The Ukrainian seized control in the deciding set, breaking in the fifth and seventh games to open a commanding lead. Serving for the championship, she saved three break points before sealing the title with a backhand volley — a fitting end to a match that demanded every ounce of her composure.
'Definitely [it] was an extremely tough battle,' Svitolina said after the match, adding that she was pleased with the way she handled nerves throughout the tournament.
The Road to the Final
Svitolina's path to the title was arguably the toughest in the draw. She eliminated second seed Elena Rybakina and fourth seed Iga Swiatek in consecutive rounds before facing Gauff, last year's runner-up, in the final. Beating three of the top four seeds in the same tournament is a rare feat on any surface.
Men's Draw: Sinner Into the Final
In the men's competition, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner completed his rain-suspended semifinal against seventh seed Daniil Medvedev on Saturday, winning 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. Sinner will face 23rd seed Casper Ruud in Sunday's final, with the Italian crowd firmly behind their home favourite on home clay.
Point of View
Swiatek, and Gauff consecutively is a sequence that would test any player on the WTA tour, let alone one who has navigated the extraordinary off-court pressures Svitolina has faced since 2022. The real story here is not the scoreline but the consistency: three Italian Open titles across different stages of a career is a benchmark few players reach. With Roland Garros imminent, this run of form will make her a genuine dark horse in Paris.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Italian Open women's singles title in 2025?
Elina Svitolina won the 2025 Italian Open women's singles title, defeating Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2 in the final on 17 May in Rome. It is her third Italian Open crown and her 20th WTA singles title.
What was the scoreline of the Svitolina vs Gauff final?
Svitolina beat Gauff 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2 in a match lasting two hours and 49 minutes. Gauff won the second-set tiebreak 7-3 to level the match before Svitolina dominated the deciding set.
Who did Svitolina beat on her way to the Italian Open final?
Svitolina defeated second seed Elena Rybakina and fourth seed Iga Swiatek in consecutive rounds before facing Gauff in the final — eliminating three of the top four seeds in the draw.
What is the significance of Svitolina's Italian Open win?
The title is Svitolina's third in Rome and her 20th WTA singles title overall. It also strengthens her credentials ahead of Roland Garros, having beaten three top-four seeds on clay in a single tournament.
What happened in the men's Italian Open semifinal?
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner completed his rain-suspended semifinal against Daniil Medvedev on Saturday, winning 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. Sinner will face 23rd seed Casper Ruud in Sunday's men's final.
