Coco Gauff opens up after painful defeat in Italian Open final: “This hurts, but I will improve”
In one of the most thrilling matches on the women’s tennis calendar, Coco Gauff saw her dream of winning the WTA 1000 Italian Open dashed by Elina Svitolina, the world number 10, who triumphed 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-2 at the iconic Foro Italico in Rome. At 22 years old, the young American, already a two-time Grand Slam champion, was unable to secure the title that had also eluded her in last year’s final against Jasmine Paolini.
Following the defeat, Gauff took to social media to share a message filled with emotion and learning: “Ughhhhh, this loss hurts… but I learned a lot and I will improve because of this. Thank you for the last two weeks, Rome.” These words reveal the vulnerability and determination of an athlete who views each setback as an opportunity to grow.
During the post-match press conference, Coco was clear and self-critical:
– “It was a match from which I learned a lot. I created many opportunities, but I couldn’t take advantage of them. At certain moments, I played too passively. This will help me prepare better for next time.”
When asked about the impressive statistic of 17 break points conceded, of which she only converted three, Gauff explained what was lacking: “Nothing was missing from my game. The problem was more about nerves. Creating so many opportunities shows that my game was there, but I needed to be more aggressive in those crucial moments. I was too passive and also had some bad luck in the first set with a few let cords.”
The young star acknowledged that the mental factor played a decisive role: “For me, at this moment, it feels like it’s either winning the title or nothing. It was frustrating because last year I reached the final exhausted, but this time I felt I was playing well. However, whenever I had a chance, I couldn’t maintain the quality. It’s a mental block that I need to overcome.”
Despite Svitolina’s aggression, Gauff was not surprised: “I had already played against her in Dubai and at the Australian Open. I knew what to expect. The problem was me; I have to figure out how to play better against her.”
With the French Open just a week away, the American expressed her focus on the future: “There’s a lot to take positively from this tournament and a lot to learn. I felt all possible emotions—being ahead, losing the advantage, being on the edge—and I believe that all this experience prepares me for Paris. I hope to learn lessons from each moment and improve.”
Regarding the issue of mental blocking in decisive moments, Gauff revealed a deep analysis: “In the first set, she wasn’t being that aggressive and I played passively, which was actually working. But when opponents start to take risks when they are behind, I have to adapt. I can’t lower the intensity when I have the advantage or during break points.”
To prepare for Roland Garros, Coco set a clear goal: “It’s not so much about being more aggressive, because I already have the opportunities, but rather about capitalizing better on those short balls. I need a more effective plan to do something with them, because today I had many and didn’t do anything productive.”
This bitter defeat at the Italian Open is, for Coco Gauff, a turning point: full of talent and determination, the young tennis player shows that she is far from giving up and is ready to challenge the top of world tennis in her title defense at Roland Garros.
Stay tuned for the upcoming battles of this rising star, who promises to return even stronger and more determined to claim the titles she aspires to.
This article first appeared on [Apito Final](https://apitofinal.pt/).
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