In the Italian Open, Tennis, Elina Svitolina defeated Iga Swiatek of Poland 6-2,4-6,6-2 to reach the Rome title clash for the third time in her career.

The Ukrainian champion in 2017 and 2018 returns to the final for the first time since her back-to-back triumphs and will now face Coco Gauff for the trophy. Svitolina, who also defeated Swiatek at Indian Wells earlier this year, battled for 2 hours and 14 minutes and saved 11 of 16 break points, including all five she faced in the deciding set.

The Ukrainian holds a 3-2 edge over Gauff in their head-to-head record, including victories at this year’s Australian Open and Dubai. Their showdown will also feature the biggest age gap in a Rome final since Martina Navratilova and Monica Seles contested the 1990 title match.

Meanwhile, Gauff has scripted history of her own, becoming the youngest American since Venus Williams in 1998-99 to reach consecutive Italian Open finals and the first player since Swiatek in 2021-22 to make back-to-back Rome finals.