Coco Gauff continues to amaze on the tennis court, having just battled to another remarkable victory at the Italian Open.
Gauff defeated Mirra Andreeva 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 in Rome to secure a semifinal spot, where she meets Sorana Cirstea.
Just before her latest win, Gauff battled past Iva Jovic in a roller-coaster clash, having also needed three sets to make it past Solana Sierra.
The WTA number four started out with a straight-sets win over Tereza Valentova, and will now be hoping for similar success against Cirstea.
Ahead of that match, Gauff has received high praise from Rick Macci, who previously coached tennis legend Serena Williams.
Coco Gauff claimed to be the ‘best counterpuncher’ in WTA history
Macci posted on X: “Coco is the best counterpuncher that I have ever seen hold the stick on the WTA Tour.
“Her make-up speed is gold medal territory and she is as explosive as the quickest WNBA guards.
“But unfortunately she has to improve a lot more as she is only the 3rd best athlete in her family. Unreal.”
Gauff has shown stunning athleticism and speed in her relatively brief career so far, which has produced two Grand Slam titles.
She already boasts 11 WTA titles at the age of just 22, having previously climbed as high as number two in the world rankings.
Who is the greatest women’s tennis player of all time?
Coco Gauff leads the WTA Tour for comeback wins in 2026
Along with her fantastic physical attributes, it has become increasingly clear that Gauff possesses a superb mental strength.
That has been on display this season, particularly at the Italian Open, with the American constantly coming from behind to claim important wins.
In fact, as per OptaAce, the youngster now has eight comeback wins in the 2026 season, the most of any player.
Of course, the stakes will soon increase when Roland Garros arrives later this month, where Gauff will be out to defend her title.
Gauff is among the French Open favorites, having defeated Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s final, as well as losing the Paris final to Iga Swiatek in 2022.
The American superstar has also tasted Grand Slam success at the US Open, defeating Sabalenka in the 2023 final.
| Result | Year | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
| Loss | 2022 | French Open | Clay | Iga Swiatek | 1–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 2023 | US Open | Hard | Aryna Sabalenka | 2–6, 6–3, 6–2 |
| Win | 2025 | French Open | Clay | Aryna Sabalenka | 6–7(5–7), 6–2, 6–4 |
Right now, however, all of her focus is on the Italian Open and Cirstea, who is enjoying a dream run in Rome in her final season before retiring.
The Romanian has already knocked out WTA number one Sabalenka, along with Linda Noskova, Jelena Ostapenko and Tatjana Maria.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
