Photo credit: Internazionali BNL d'Italia
Unleashing topspin that trampolined off the terre battue, Coco Gauff continued captivating elevation through this Rome field.
Lifting her level at crucial stages, Gauff played cleaner combinations conquering Mirra Andreeva 6-4, 7-6(5) to charge into her third Rome semifinal.
"I'm really confident on clay," Gauff told the media in Rome. "I think it's a surface that works well for my game. I would love to get a big title on clay just because I do love it.
"Yeah, I'm having a lot of confidence, but hoping to go even further."
WTA Finals champion Gauff will face either world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in what would be a rematch of the Madrid final or Olympic gold-medal champion Zheng Qinwen for a spot in the Rome final.
"They're both tough players. It's going to be a tough match regardless of who I play," Gauff said. "Obviously I would maybe like to play Aryna because I just played her in Madrid, just to get some revenge (smiling).
"Obviously Qinwen is tough to play. I have no preference. It's going to be a tough, hard match either way."
Carrying herself with confidence and competing with more composure than Andreeva today, Gauff beat the Indian Wells champion for the fourth time in as many meetings.
It’s Gauff’s second straight win over Andreeva following her 7-5, 6-1 victory in the Madrid quarterfinals. Gauff, who will supplant Iga Swiatek as world No. 2 when the new WTA rankings are released, now stands one win away from breaking Swiatek’s record as youngest woman to reach Madrid and Rome finals in the same season.
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The 21-year-old Gauff joins compatriot Peyton Stearns in the semifinals giving the United States two of the final four in the Rome field.
Last night, Stearns continued her streak of marathon magic in the Eternal City. Stearns subdued two-time Rome champion Elina Svitolina 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(4)—her third straight thrilling third-set tiebreaker win. Stearns stopped Australian Open champion Madison Keys in a third-set breaker then vomited before and after the third-set tiebreaker in defeating former No. 1 Naomi Osaka in the round of 16.
Three-time all-American Stearns has rocked up to a new career-high ranking of No. 26 in the live rankings and will face Roland Garros finalist and home hero Jasmine Paolini for a spot in the final.
A booming serve, heavy topspin forehand, crackling backhands and dynamic movement helped Gauff stop the dangerous Andreeva, who struggled to control her forehand at times and showed frustration tossing her racquet and belting a ball against the back wall.
Targeting the teenager’s forehand wing on serve, Gauff served 65 percent, won 16 of her first 18 points on serve then won 12 points in a row on serve heading into the tiebreaker. In contrast, Andreeva served 47 percent, won only 10 of 21 first-serve points and dropped serve three times.
Another essential element to this win: Gauff hit her forehand with more conviction and was willing to wage baseline battles in extended rallies. Andreeva, a superb all-court talent with shrewd court sense, over-played the drop shot at times, delved into a period of moon balls and did not finish with the forehand as well as her opponent today.
The fourth-seeded Gauff came out striking with confidence. Gauff won 16 of the first 18 points played on her serve charging to a 4-3 lead.
A poor Andreeva dropper sat up near the service line. Gauff easily tracked it down then adjusted to a dribbler off the tape, bunting a forehand winner to score first-break blood for 5-3.
Hitting some of her best forehands of the set, Andreeva backed the American up in earning double break point in the next game. When Gauff misfired on a running forehand, Andreeva broke back for 4-5.
Whether she was trying to find her forehand range or bothered by the depth of Gauff’s drives, Andreeva was tossing in forehand moonballs in the latter stages of the set.
The Indian Wells champion floated a moonball forehand long to face set point. Andreeva saved it, but two points later she scattered another forehand as Gauff snatched a one-set lead after 41 minutes.
The serve was the key stroke in the opening set. Gauff served 60 percent and won 12 of 16 first-serve points. Andreeva served 44 percent and won only six of 13 first-serve points. The normally precise Andreeva hit six winners against 20 unforced errors in the opener.
“Be disciplined, come on!” four-time Rome champion and Andreeva coach Conchita Martinez urged her charge, who was down 0-2 early in the second set.
Andreeva acted on that advice reeling off three games in a row. Forgoing the moon ball, Andreeva began zapping her forehand down the line. She earned double break point in the fifth game.
A jittery Gauff decelerated, clanking her first double fault of the day into the middle of the net ceding the break and 3-2 lead to Andreeva.
Gauff came right back battering out the break at 15 to level after six games.
Down 15-30 in the next game, Gauff dialed in on serve and ran through 13 consecutive points on serve.
The 18-year-old Andreeva held at 30 to force a tiebreaker. Andreeva carried a 14-5 career tiebreaker record, including a 5-1 mark in breakers this season, into the extra session.
Still, Gauff confounded the Russian with a defensive stand compelling her to miss a forehand sitter long for 3-1. Gauff slid a slice forehand behind Andreeva for 4-3.
Amping up her aggressive, Andreeva hit a smash then shoveled a forehand drop shot winner to level at 5-all.
That was her last stand. A biting forehand helped Gauff gain match point at 6-5 and when Andreeva missed a backhand Gauff erupted with a loud "come on!"
The 2023 US Open champion improved to 23-7 on the season as she aims to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2016 to capture the Rome championship.