Elina Svitolina defeated Coco Gauff in three sets to win the 2026 Italian Open women's final on May 14 [1].
This victory cements Svitolina's dominance on clay and marks a significant return to championship form at one of the tour's most prestigious events. The result reinforces her status as a premier clay-court specialist heading into the peak of the season.
The match took place at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy [2]. Svitolina secured the title with a final score of 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2 [3]. The contest required a deciding set to determine the winner after Gauff forced a tiebreak in the second set.
This victory represents Svitolina's third Italian Open title [3]. She previously won the tournament in 2017 and 2018 [3]. The win further extends her remarkable streak in championship matches played on this surface.
According to tournament data, Svitolina now holds an eight-zero record in clay-court finals [3]. The victory was celebrated alongside her husband, Gael Monfils, and daughter, Skai [4].
Gauff fought to keep the match competitive through the second set, but Svitolina maintained control in the final frame to close out the match. The 2026 final served as the deciding match of the tournament, crowning Svitolina as the champion of the event [5].
“Elina Svitolina defeated Coco Gauff in three sets to win the 2026 Italian Open”
Svitolina's undefeated record in clay-court finals suggests a psychological and technical edge on the surface that few players can match. By winning her third title in Rome, she proves her longevity and ability to compete with the current generation of power hitters like Coco Gauff.
