Elina Svitolina dominated Coco Gauff 6-2, 6-3 Saturday to secure her 20th career WTA singles title and third Rome crown, capping a week where she also defeated world No. 2 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan and world No. 3 Iga Świątek of Poland. The 31-year-old Ukrainian, returning to the tour as a mother after giving birth to daughter Skai in October 2022, now turns her focus to the French Open starting May 24 in Paris, where she aims to win her first Grand Slam singles title.

Svitolina, who had already beaten Gauff at the Australian Open and Dubai Tennis Championships earlier this year, wasted no time establishing control. She broke Gauff’s serve twice to open the match before the American rallied to win a tight second set on a tiebreaker. The decisive third set saw Svitolina save two set points at 4-5 and break to force a deciding tiebreaker, which she won 7-5. A crucial double fault from Gauff at 5-5 sealed Svitolina’s victory.

Svitolina’s emotional journey through Rome

Svitolina described the fortnight in Rome as grueling, with matches often lasting late into the night. She said losing the second set was painful but emphasized mental resilience. “Coco is a great fighter,” Svitolina told Sky Sports Tennis. “I tried to stay mentally tough and refocus after each set. The late matches were exhausting, but I’m proud of how I fought through.”

The victory marks Svitolina’s first title since returning from maternity leave in 2023. Her road to the final included wins over top seeds, showcasing her experience and shot-making under pressure. Gauff, the reigning French Open champion, fought hard but struggled with uncharacteristic errors in key moments.

What’s next for Svitolina and Gauff

Svitolina now prepares for the French Open, where she has historically performed well on clay. Her aggressive baseline game and net play could translate into success on the red dirt. Gauff, meanwhile, will regroup after a disappointing loss in her title defense. The 19-year-old American remains a top contender for Grand Slams but must address her consistency in finals.

The ATP and WTA Tours continue this week with matches streaming live on Sky Sports Tennis, Sky Sports+, NOW, and the Sky Sports app. Fans can follow the action as players build momentum heading into the clay swing’s final major.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: Sky Sports
  • Published: May 16, 2026 at 21:00 UTC
  • Category: Sports
  • Topics: #sky-sports · #football · #premier-league · #sports · #tennis · #french-open

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 16, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

Elina Svitolina escreveu mais um capítulo de sua trajetória de redenção no tênis mundial ao conquistar o terceiro título do Internazionali d’Italia, em Roma, e abalar as pretensões de Coco Gauff na defesa do título de Roland Garros. A ucraniana, que voltou a brilhar após a maternidade, superou a americana por 6/4 e 7/6(4) em uma final eletrizante, reforçando seu nome como uma das principais candidatas ao título em Paris.

O feito de Svitolina não é apenas mais uma vitória no currículo: representa um sopro de esperança para o tênis feminino em um momento em que o Brasil e o mundo buscam novas referências além das dominantes Iga Świątek e Aryna Sabalenka. Com 20 títulos na carreira e uma campanha sólida em quadras de saibro, a ucraniana prova que experiência e maturidade podem ser armas poderosas contra as jovens promessas, como Gauff, que tentava emplacar seu primeiro título em Roma. Para os fãs brasileiros, a partida reacendeu discussões sobre a ascensão de jogadoras sul-americanas em um esporte cada vez mais globalizado.

Agora, o foco se volta para Roland Garros, onde Svitolina buscará seu primeiro Grand Slam desde 2016 e poderá atrapalhar os planos de Gauff, principal favorita ao título. A francesa Leia mais sobre a campanha e os próximos passos das duas no torneio.