Coco Gauff is enjoying a strong run at the Italian Open in Rome, where Iga Swiatek suffered a shock early exit.

Gauff eased past Emma Raducanu to reach the quarter-finals of the Italian Open, where she will take on Mirra Andreeva.

American star Gauff is the fourth seed at the WTA 1000 tournament, with seventh seed Andreeva next on her agenda in Rome.

Swiatek meanwhile was the second seed, but she fell in the third round of the Italian Open to Danielle Collins.

The shock defeat came after the Pole beat Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the second round, with her exit arriving shortly before the French Open.

Photo by Robert Prange/Getty ImagesPhoto by Robert Prange/Getty ImagesWhat Coco Gauff thinks will happen if she plays Iga Swiatek at the French Open

Serena Williams’ former coach Rick Macci thinks things could get more difficult for Swiatek, who heads into the French Open as the three-time defending champion.

And after her latest win in Rome, Gauff was asked how Swiatek’s exit changes the current clay court scene for her and indeed other players on the WTA Tour.

READ MORE: Jim Courier alarmed by one stat from Iga Swiatek’s shock defeat to Danielle Collins, ‘that is as bad as I have ever seen’

“Yeah, I mean, I think for sure it changes some things when you maybe see someone who won Roland Garros that many times not having the best results,” said the American.

“Women’s tennis is two-out-of-three sets. I think it definitely gives players a lot of confidence when they come to face her.

Photo by Robert Prange/Getty ImagesPhoto by Robert Prange/Getty Images

“You also have to respect that she’s a four-time champion at Roland Garros. I always think if someone wins a tournament that many times, regardless of what shape they’re in, they can definitely figure out a way to win again.

“If I were to play her at French Open, I would throw away the results in Madrid, not even think about it, expect her to play her best tennis.”

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Coco Gauff vs Iga Swiatek head-to-head record ahead of potential French Open tie

Gauff was referencing her very recent meeting with Swiatek at the Madrid Open, in which the former beat the latter.

The American triumphed 6-1, 6-1 in their semi-final clash before going on to lose the final to Aryna Sabalenka.

READ MORE: Danielle Collins makes career history after knocking Iga Swiatek out of the Italian Open

Result Year Tournament Surface Opponent Win 2020 French Open Clay Sofia Kenin Win 2022 French Open (2) Clay Coco Gauff Win 2022 US Open Hard Ons Jabeur Win 2023 French Open (3) Clay Karolina Muchova Win 2024 French Open (4) Clay Jasmine Paolini

Iga Swiatek Grand Slam finals record

It represented just a fourth Gauff win over Swiatek in 15 attempts, with the Pole boasting 11 wins over her WTA rival.

The French Open returns later this month, with the duo potentially meeting early next month given they will be seeded at the Grand Slam.

And it is very much Swiatek who has stolen the headlines in Paris in recent years, lifting the prestigious trophy in 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Her stunning record at the competition includes a 2022 final win over Gauff, in which the current world number two beat the world number three 6-1, 6-3.