As the stage is set for the final clay-court showdown in Italy, Elina Svitolina is approaching the biggest match of her season with a calm mindset. Confident in her remarkable post-maternity renaissance, Svitolina is ready to put her opponent, Coco Gauff, on high alert.
Elina Svitolina Erases Pressure With ‘Nothing to Lose’ Mindset, Ahead of Facing Coco Gauff in Italian Open Final
Svitolina has been a force to reckon with on the Italian clay, dropping only two sets on her path to Saturday’s final. She breezed past Hailey Baptiste (6-1, 6-2), secured a massive comeback win against former Rome champion Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals, rallying from a set down to win 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, and, stunned former world No. 1 Iga Świątek in the semifinals, winning 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to book her spot in the championship.
Ahead of the final, Svitolina was asked what it would mean to you to win the trophy in two days. Her response was with an underdog mentality.
“Yeah, will mean the world for me. But I try not to put any kind of pressure on me. I have nothing really to lose,” said the 31-year- old.
“Especially like for coming back after giving birth, having all this journey, I would never dream to play in such a high level, beat and challenge top players, have a chance to play in semis and finals. Yeah, just couldn’t dream about a better year.”
Svitolina’s journey back to the top of tennis has been amazing. The former world No. 3 left the tour in early 2022 to start a family. In October 2022, she and her husband, French tennis star Gaël Monfils, welcomed their daughter, Skaï.
Svitolina returned to the court in April 2023 with no ranking. But since then, she has piled up achievements.
She quickly won a title in Strasbourg, reached the quarterfinals of the French Open, and made a deep run to the Wimbledon semifinals. She basically climbed her way right back into the top tiers of the sport.
This year, in February, her consistency heralded her long-awaited return to the WTA Top 10 for the first time since October 2021, fueled by a title run at the Auckland Classic, an Australian Open semifinal appearance, a run to the Dubai final, and a semifinal in Indian Wells with the victories over Gauff and Świątek.
Now, she faces 22-year-old Gauff for the trophy. But Svitolina has a clear mental edge, as she leads their head-to-head record 3-2. More importantly, she has already beaten the world No. 4 twice in 2026, at the Australian Open and in Dubai.
Saturday will be their first meeting on clay, with Svitolina playing without fear and Gauff seeking revenge. The championship match takes place today, Saturday, May 16, at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy.
