Elina Svitolina had to wait a long time to win another WTA 1000 title, but the former world No. 3 player accomplished the feat in style on Saturday. She defeated third seed Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-2 in a high-quality final to win the Italian Open title. This is Svitolina's third title in Rome, following back-to-back victories in 2017 and 2018. Gauff, seeking her first title in Rome, made a strong start and broke twice to lead 2-0 and 4-2. However, Svitolina recovered on both occasions. The Ukrainian player saved three break points in the crucial ninth game to maintain a 5-4 lead, then broke Gauff's serve to take the first set 6-4. Gauff, who had already played several three-set matches this week, also stayed close to Svitolina in the second set. Although the American player earned break points in each of the first three service games, neither player could break until the 11th game. Gauff broke to lead 6-5, but Svitolina broke back immediately and forced a tiebreak. The American player won the tiebreak 7-5 to level the match. Svitolina quickly took control in the deciding set, breaking in the fifth and seventh games to lead 5-2. Serving for the championship, the Ukrainian player saved three break points and converted her second match point after two hours and 49 minutes. She now leads Gauff 4-2 in their head-to-head. After the win, Svitolina said, "Definitely it was a very tough match. I'm very happy that I managed my nerves, not just today but throughout the whole tournament. The last two weeks have been tough, but the way I've been playing and the way my body has been responding in tough matches, I'm very satisfied. I'm proud of my work." Svitolina improved her record in WTA clay-court finals in the Open Era to 8-0 and became only the second player, after Ana Ivanovic, to win her first eight WTA-level finals on clay. She also became the oldest player to win three or more titles at the same Tier I/WTA 1000 event, surpassing Serena Williams, who achieved this feat in Miami in 2013 at the age of 31 years and 173 days. Svitolina became the first player to defeat three top-five players in the same edition of the Rome tournament. Svitolina now has 20 WTA singles titles and became the first Ukrainian player to reach this milestone in the Open Era.
