Elina Svitolina is the champion of Rome once again after defeating Coco Gauff in the final of the Italian Open.
Svitolina was expecting a battle against Gauff in the Italian capital, and that is exactly what played out in their thrilling final.
The pair could only be separated after almost three hours of tennis, with Svitolina finally defeating Gauff 6-4, 6-7(3-7), 6-2.
It completed a stunning run from the Ukrainian, who also beat Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek en route to the Italian Open trophy.
She now boasts 20 career WTA titles, but has also just matched a truly superb feat managed only by two icons of the sport.
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Rome champion Elina Svitolina emulates Kim Clijsters and Victoria Azarenka
With her success in Rome, Svitolina has become the third comeback mother to win a WTA 1000 title after Kim Clijsters and Victoria Azarenka.
That is according to the Italian Open on X, with the Ukrainian deserving huge credit for such a superb achievement.
It is a tournament that the world number 10 clearly enjoys playing in, with Svitolina having also triumphed in Rome in both 2017 and 2018.
In fact, the 31-year-old has also become the oldest player to win three or more titles at a single Tier 1/WTA 1000 event, surpassing Serena Williams at Miami.
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Elina Svitolina makes Ukrainian tennis history with Italian Open title
The stunning achievements do not end there for the veteran, who has continued a fantastic season for Ukrainian tennis.
Earlier this month, her compatriot Marta Kostyuk won the Madrid Open, having also emerged victorious in Rouen just before that.
But she falls short of Svitolina, who has just become the first Ukrainian player in the Open Era to claim 20 WTA singles titles.
- 2026 – Auckland, Rome
- 2025 – Rouen
- 2023 – Strasbourg
- 2021 – Chicago 250
- 2020 – Monterrey, Strasbourg
- 2018 – Brisbane, Dubai, Rome, WTA Finals
- 2017 – Taipei City, Dubai, Istanbul, Rome, Toronto
- 2016 – Kuala Lumpur
- 2015 – Marrakech
- 2014 – Baku
- 2013 – Baku
And her latest success has arrived at the perfect time, with Roland Garros set to get underway later this month.
Giving her even more confidence for the Grand Slam, Svitolina impressively boasts a perfect 8-0 clay-court final record.
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