Italian Open 2026: Coco Gauff reaches back-to-back finals in Rome with win over Sorana Cîrstea

Coco Gauff is in red-hot form on the red clay of Rome.

The United States tennis sensation stormed into the Italian Open final for a second successive year after beating Romania's Sorana Cîrstea 6-4, 6-3 on Thursday (14 May) in Rome.

Playing in the WTA 1000 tournament's semi-finals for the fourth time in her career, Gauff delivered a strong first-serve performance in the opening set and converted two of her three break points.

In the second set, which was briefly paused after a spectator needed medical assistance, Gauff maintained her momentum, breaking veteran Cîrstea's serve in all three opportunities she created.

The North American now holds a 4-0 record over Cîrstea, whom she also faced in the second round of the Madrid Open last month, coming from behind to clinch victory.

Up next, third seed Gauff will face either six-time major champion Iga Świątek of Poland or Ukraine's seventh seed Elina Svitolina for a place in Saturday's title clash, her seventh WTA 1000 final.

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'Grateful to be in the final'

Gauff's semi-final victory against Cîrstea was pretty straightforward, unlike her quarter-final triumph, in which she needed five match points to beat World No. 8 Mirra Andreeva of Russia in a contest that lasted more than two hours.

The twice Grand Slam champion said she felt grateful to be in final after an arduous route to the title clash.

Gauff is only the third player from the U.S. to reach back-to-back finals in Rome, after Venus Williams (1998-1999) and Serena Williams (2013-2014).

"I’ve been enjoying it," Gauff said in her on-court interview when asked about how her mindset has changed through the tournament.

"The first couple of rounds were tough. Those are the matches you get through. I was one point away from being out of the tournament.

"Really grateful to be in the final. Each match, I think I learned a little bit more from something from each match. I think it showed today," she added.

Gauff has struggled on clay this season but seems to have found her form in Rome, as she prepares to defend her 2025 title at the upcoming French Open in Paris, France.

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