Coco Gauff’s time at the 2026 Italian Open looked all but finished during her blockbuster fourth-round clash against fellow American Iva Jovic. However, the world No. 4 fought back from the brink of defeat, producing a remarkable display that drew praise from her mother, Candi, 18-time Grand Slam champion Chris Evert, and several others across the tennis community.
How Candi Gauff and Chris Evert Reacted to Coco Gauff’s Italian Open Comeback
The thrilling contest unfolded with Jovic battling back from a break down to win the opening set 7-5. The 18-year-old then surged to a 5-3 lead in the second set and even had an opportunity to serve for the win. However, Gauff displayed her resilience in the crucial game, saving a match point to force a decider.
The world No. 4 then seized control in the third set to claim a 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 victory, booking her spot in the quarterfinals after an intense 2-hour, 45-minute battle. Her incredible “fight” earned admiration from her mother, Candi Gauff, on Instagram.
“@cocogauff what a fight!!” she posted.
Chris Evert also applauded Gauff’s fortitude, crowning her “the queen of the comebacks.”
Gauff’s former coach, Brad Gilbert, praised the two-time Grand Slam champion’s comeback while sympathizing with Jovic, posting, “Tremendous 😎💪fight back from Coco to find away to finish line 🏁 vs Jovic, who will be kicking herself for not closing at 5-3 in 2nd set.”
Meanwhile, Jim Courier expressed hope that the 22-year-old can overcome the technical issues with her serve and forehand, despite hailing her as a “warrior.”
“I just think that Coco she’s a warrior and she brings it out there. And I really do hope that at some point that she can put some of the technical challenges behind her, because then she’ll be able to fly so much higher than she already is, and she’s already been to the top,” he said on the Tennis Channel.
What Coco Gauff Said After Her Italian Open Comeback Win
During her post-match press conference, Gauff shared her thoughts on the “tough” showdown and the tricky conditions while taking pride in her comeback.
“Yeah, it was a tough one. Yeah, it was a lot. I think moments I was playing good and she wasn’t, and vice versa, she was playing good and I wasn’t. It was really hard. I think the conditions made it tough to make some clean tennis. Really proud of how I was able to fight, yeah,” the American said.
The world No. 4 also admitted to putting too much pressure on herself and explained how she approaches WTA 1000 events like the Italian Open to ease the mental burden.
“I think the Grand Slams, losing in those, will always sting. But maybe not putting so much pressure on Rome and Madrid,” she added. “At this point every tournament I play is a 1000 or a 500. They’re all big tournaments. I think just putting less pressure on those tournaments, on myself, to save my mind a little bit.”
In the quarterfinals, No. 3 seed Coco Gauff will face another tough challenge against No. 8 seed Mirra Andreeva, who defeated Elise Mertens 6-3, 6-3 in the fourth round. If she wins, the American will come up against Jeļena Ostapenko or Sorana Cîrstea in the semifinals of the WTA 1000 event.
