Rome, May 15 — Two-time champion Elina Svitolina beat three-time winner Iga Świątek 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 in a gripping Italian Open semifinal on Friday, winning in 2 hours 14 minutes to reach the final for the third time. Svitolina, back in the title match for the first time since her consecutive wins in 2017–18, will face Coco Gauff as both players chase their first WTA 1000 title of the season; Svitolina has already beaten the American twice this year.
Svitolina’s victory extended a strong run against Świątek — she also beat the Pole in three sets in the Paribas Open quarterfinals in March — and showcased her resilience under pressure. She saved 11 of 16 break points in the semifinal, including all five she faced in the deciding set. Over the season (excluding team events and Grand Slams), Svitolina has faced 59 break points and saved 44, the most of any player in a single WTA main draw.
The win leaves Svitolina with a 3-2 overall record against Gauff, with earlier triumphs at the Australian Open and in Dubai. The 9 years and 182 days age gap between Svitolina and Gauff is the largest in an Internazionali d’Italia final since Martina Navratilova and Monica Seles in 1990, according to the WTA. Gauff becomes the youngest American since Venus Williams in 1998–99 to reach consecutive Rome finals and is the first player to reach back-to-back finals in Rome since Iga Świątek in 2021–22.
“The feeling is just unreal to be after so many years here again in the final,” Svitolina said after the match. “It’s such an amazing feeling to do it in such a great way, I think.”
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/sports/elina-svitolina-beats-iga-witek-to-enter-italian-open-final-1611652
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Publish Date: 2026-05-15 13:29:00
