SVITOLINA BEATS GAUFF IN THREE SETS TO WIN THIRD ITALIAN OPEN TITLE; SINNER REACHES ROME FINAL WITH WIN OVER MEDVEDEV . (PHOTO).
Svitolina beats Gauff in three sets to win third Italian Open title; Sinner reaches Rome final with win over Medvedev Elina Svitolina captured her third Italian Open title on Saturday, outlasting Coco Gauff in a three-set battle to claim her first WTA 1000 crown in Rome since 2018. Svitolina prevailed 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2 in a nearly three-hour final, adding to her previous victories at the event in 2017 and 2018. The Ukrainian held firm in key moments, including saving multiple break points in the opening set before pulling away in the decider with two breaks of serve. She sealed the win on her third match point with a volley at the net, securing the 20th title of her career. Gauff, who was attempting to become the first American woman to win in Rome since 2016, fought back after dropping the first set by taking the second in a tiebreak. However, she was unable to sustain momentum in the final set after struggling on serve throughout the match. Despite the loss, she said she w...