Defending French Open champion Coco Gauff produced a remarkable breakaway performance at the Italian Open in Rome on May 11, saving match points before coming back to beat teenage sensation Iva Jovic 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the WTA 1000 tournament.
The world No.4 looked on the brink of a shock defeat before showing immense resilience to keep her Rome campaign alive just weeks before she returns to Roland Garros as the defending champion.
Gauff found herself in deep trouble after losing the opening set 5-7 against the fearless 18-year-old Jovic, who continued to attack freely from the baseline.
The youngster carried that momentum into the second set and moved within touching distance of the biggest win of her career as she raced to a 5-3 lead. Jovic then earned a match point at 30:40 on Gauff’s serve, so the American was only one point away from elimination.
GAUFF STORMS BACK
But Gauff responded like a Grand Slam champion. The American saved the match point with aggressive strokes and suddenly increased the intensity at exactly the right moment.
She held serve under immense pressure before immediately coming back to level the set at 5-5. The dynamic then completely changed as Gauff’s movement and defensive skills began to wear Jovic down.
After escaping the brink, Gauff forced a decision and looked like a changed player in the third set. Her serve became more reliable while her forehand found more depth and consistency. Jovic still produced flashes of brilliance but the teenager failed to maintain the same level after letting opportunities slip away.
Coco Gauff after saving a match point to beat Jovic in Rome
“I think I’m just proud. Iva played really good tennis. The conditions were not easy today. We had the wind. We had the planes. Our phones were ringing. Everything was happening. But I’m really happy. I thank my team for pic.twitter.com/GgWMQGHqLD— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 11, 2026
‘I STAYED MENTALLY STRONG’
Gauff praised Jovic’s level, admitting the windy and disruptive conditions made the match difficult, while crediting her mental toughness and timely pep talks from her team that inspired a comeback.
“I’m really proud of how I defended myself. Iva played really good tennis and the conditions weren’t easy today, the wind, the planes overhead and even the phones ringing during the points. I’m really happy how I stayed mentally strong and the pep talks from my team definitely helped,” Gauff said.
The comeback underlined why Gauff remains one of the favorites heading into the French Open later this month. The 22-year-old won her first title at Roland Garros last year and once again proved her ability to survive tough moments on clay. Although it was far from her best, Gauff was able to stay mentally composed and trust her fighting instincts.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
11 May 2026 19:48 IST
