Coco Gauff is into the Italian Open semifinal (Image: Getty Images)
Coco Gauff nearly squandered a chance at the 2026 Italian Open semifinals, needing five match points to edge Mirra Andreeva 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Gauff, ranked fourth in the world, entered the tournament on the doorstep of the No. 3 spot in the WTA rankings, needing its holder Iga Swiatek to sumble before the semifinal stage. That didn’t happen: the six-time grand slam winner was dominant in her semifinal, making easy work of Jessica Pegula in her quarterfinal match.
Swiatek entered the Italian Open with 6,948 points. Reaching the semifinals guarantees her a minimum of 390 points and advances her tally to 7,243.
The Polish 24-year-old’s WTA points total will climb to 7,533 if she reaches the final and to an even higher 7,883 if she wins the tournament.
Gauff, the 2025 Italian Open runner-up (which earned her 650 points), climbed to 6,489 points in the WTA live table with her win over Andreeva in the quarterfinals.
Iga Swiatek is also into the Italian Open semifinals (Image: Getty Images)
Gauff can climb to 6,749 points with a win over Sorana Cirstea in the semifinals and all the way up to 7,033 by winning the whole thing (a tally higher than Swiatek’s initial tally).
After reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals, Swiatek has struggled: the 2026 Italian Open is her first semifinal at any tournaement since the United Cup in early January.
“I feel much better and a lot of confidence on my shots,” the Polish played said after her win. “I’m really happy with the way I played.”
DON’T MISS:
Gauff, also an Australian Open quarterfinalist, has reached just one final in 2026 (the Miami Open). She spoke effusively about her Cirstea, Gauff’s next opponent, after beating Andreeva.
“Sorana [Cirstea] is a tough player,” the two-time grand slam winner said. “We played each other last tournament and it was three sets. So, it’s going to be another tough match, but grateful to be into the semifinals.”
Gauff was forced to mount dramatic comebacks in both the third and fourth rounds of the Italian Open. She has dropped a set in three of her four matches in Rome.
]]>