Coco Gauff‘s valiant effort at the 2024 Italian Open fell short once again against Iga Swiatek, who secured her 10th victory over Gauff in their careers.
Swiatek and Gauff had met 10 times prior to their Rome encounter, with Swiatek holding a dominant 9-1 head-to-head record. The match in Rome marked Swiatek’s 10th win over Gauff in their rivalry, but Gauff put up a strong fight.
Gauff showcased determination in this match, displaying an aggressive approach with powerful shots. She aimed to outplay the world no. 1 from the baseline, initially taking the lead in the match.
Swiatek responded, leading to a closely contested match with both players having their moments of brilliance and errors. It was a fiercely competitive battle between two players coming off successful weeks in Rome.
The turning point in the first set occurred in the ninth game when Gauff squandered a 40-0 lead on her serve, allowing Swiatek to seize the set 6-4 after capitalizing on the momentum shift.
The second set followed a similar trajectory, with Swiatek breaking for a 3-2 lead and eventually securing the victory at 6-4, 6-3. Despite Gauff’s inspired play, Swiatek’s sharpness proved decisive as she advanced to another WTA 1000 final.
