Ukraine's top seed Elina Svitolina reached the WTA 1000 final in Rome for the first time in eight years. The seventh seed shared her emotions after winning the semifinals in a commentary for WTA.
Two-time WTA 1000 champion in Rome Elina Svitolina met with former world number one Iga Swiontek in the semifinals. It took a 3-set match to defeat the Polish player Svitolina. After winning the first set 6:4, Iga took the next set 6:2. However, in the decisive set, Elina, thanks to a break at the start, brought the game to victory (6:2).
The final of the “thousandth” in Rome will be Svitolina's third career final and first in eight years. Elina won the previous two decisive matches, winning back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018.
“It feels incredible to be here in the final again after so many years. I think it's such an incredible feeling to do it in such a great way. I want to enjoy this victory [over Iga]. I have the day off so I can rest, prepare and be ready for the final.”
Svitolina will play in the final of a WTA tournament for the third time this season, and for the second time in a WTA 1000 tournament. At the beginning of the year, the Ukrainian triumphed at the WTA 250 in Auckland, but in February she lost at this stage of the “thousandth” in Dubai.
The Ukrainian's opponent in the final will be the fourth racket of the world Coco Gauff. Svitolina will play her sixth match in her career against the American. Currently, the head-to-head score is 3:2 in favor of the Ukrainian. In particular, Elina won two victories in 2026: first she defeated her at the Australian Open, then at the WTA 1000 in Dubai.
“I definitely have a game plan. Not right now, but I will have one. We've played many times. It's not surprising. We both know how to fight, our last match was incredible. I'm going to watch it again to find ways [to win], some tactics.”
The age difference of 9 years and 182 days between Svitolina and Gauff is the largest in a WTA 1000 final in Rome since Martina Navratilova and Monica Seles met in the title match in 1990. The difference between the finalists in 1990 was 17 years and 45 days.
The WTA 1000 Final in Rome is scheduled for Saturday, May 16. The match will start no earlier than 6:00 PM Kyiv time.