Coco Gauff reveals what she told herself when she went a break down in the final set against Qinwen Zheng in Rome

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Coco Gauff and Qinwen Zheng were in action for 3 hours and 32 minutes last night, but it was far from the gruelling epic many might suggest.

A battle it absolutely was, but the clash was devoid of quality, scuppered by a surface that has drawn criticism throughout the week.

Few could excuse the relentless errors which littered both players’ games, as it took immense mental toughness to keep on playing despite innumerable setbacks.

The way in which Coco Gauff handled herself deserves particular praise, as she came out on top.

Coco Gauff reacts to the conditions at the Italian Open

Speaking at her post-match Italian Open press conference, naturally, Gauff was delighted.

However, it had been far from her best performance, with both Zheng and the American trading errors that let the other back into the game.

To come out the other end of that as the victor showcases immense mental strength, as she revealed what she said to herself to spur her on: ‘Honestly, I told myself I am ready to go home. I was like I have been out here forever! Not that I was going to give up. I was just like, I am ready to go home, so let me leave it all out here so at least I can go home and say I left it all out there.

‘It was tough for me. I wasn’t finding my rhythm, especially at night, it was so slow.’

Then asked about the conditions, she continued: ‘It was hard for me to hit through her. I watched a little bit of Aryna and her last night. I knew what to expect. I knew she would be really hard to hit through. It was a really physical match.’

How many titles does Coco Gauff have?

With the opportunity to now claim another title, it’s worth remembering just how successful Gauff has already been despite her youth.

Just 21 years old, she already boasts ten WTA titles to her name, including some of the most prestigious in the sport.

Naturally, her 2023 triumph at the US Open stands out above all else, but winning the WTA Finals last year is a close second.

Along with that, she has enjoyed success at two Masters 1000 events, with the opportunity to add to that on Saturday when Gauff faces Jasmine Paolini in the Italian Open final.

One WTA 500-level event and a further four wins at the 250 level round off a magnificent ongoing career, further enhanced by her doubles success as well. She won the French Open last year alongside Katerina Siniakova, ironically defeating Paolini in that final.