Coco Gauff showcased her composure in the closing moments of the second set, skillfully handling a nail-biting tiebreak against Mirra Andreeva. This victory propelled her into the semifinals of the prestigious Rome tournament for the third time in her career.
Gauff’s Journey and Future Challenges
At just 21, Gauff is well aware of the expectations placed on her as a young star in the sport—after all, she was once in those shoes herself. She has been making headlines for years with her impressive performances and is now focused on maintaining her position at the top. This awareness might explain why she’s been particularly tough on the younger players looking to challenge her.
In her latest match, Gauff continued her winning streak against 18-year-old Andreeva, securing a 6-4, 7-6 (5) victory. This marks her fourth win over Andreeva, who is already making waves as a Top 10 player. Gauff’s record against younger opponents is remarkable, standing at 11 wins and just 1 loss.
Looking ahead, Gauff will face either top seed Aryna Sabalenka or No. 8 Zheng Qinwen in her next match. The other semifinal will see Jasmine Paolini take on Peyton Stearns. Gauff expressed her positive mindset, saying, “I’m feeling really good — and I feel I have a lot to improve on, too. Winning matches while knowing there’s more to achieve is a great feeling.”
Interestingly, Gauff has become the youngest player to reach the semifinals in Rome since Martina Hingis in 1999. She is also now among the five youngest players in the Open Era to reach three semifinals, trailing only legends like Monica Seles and Chris Evert. With nine wins in her last ten matches, Gauff is clearly on a roll.
After her match, when asked about her accomplishments, Gauff humbly replied, “I don’t think about it like that. Hearing the accolades feels good, but my focus is on improving each year. I’ve lost in the semifinals here a few times, so I’m hoping to make it to the finals this time.”
Both Gauff and Andreeva are the youngest players in the Top 10, with Andreeva being the first teenager to reach the quarterfinals at the Italian Open since Gauff did in 2021. The tiebreak in their match was particularly thrilling, with Gauff executing a stunning slice forehand to take a lead, while Andreeva responded with an incredible drop shot to level the score. Ultimately, two misfired backhands cost Andreeva the match.
Reflecting on the tense moments, Gauff noted, “We were both tight in the tiebreaker. It came down to who could make the last ball.” Despite some less-than-perfect points, she managed to secure the win.
Andreeva has already proven her ability to challenge some of the best players in the game, having recently claimed titles in Dubai and Indian Wells. However, Gauff’s defensive skills posed a unique challenge, forcing Andreeva to push for power and take risks, which led to visible frustration during the match.
As the competition heats up, fans can anticipate more thrilling encounters between these two promising talents in the years to come.