Coco Gauff in action.© AFP
Wednesday, Coco Gauff walked in the semi-finals of the Italian Open by beating Mirra Andreeva in two sets, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5). American Gauff guaranteed number two in the world ranking with her solid displays in Rome, where she saw the seventh seeded Andreeva on the central field. The former US Open Gauff winner could face Aryna Sabalenka, the tournament’s favorite in the last four with the world number by facing Zheng Qinwen later on Wednesday. Gauff was looking for his first title of the season, ahead of Roland Garros from later this month, after losing the Madrid final against Sabalenka.
The champion of Indian Wells, Andreeva, at 18, the youngest women to reach the last eight in Foro Italico since Gauff in 2021, have surprisingly little resistance in a first discreet set.
And Gauff had too much for her in the second, quickly responding to each of Andreeva’s service breaks before passing a delicate shot.
Later, Carlos Alcaraz continued his candidacy for a first crown of Rome when he faces the fifth head of Jack Draper, who made another strong performance on Clay after reaching the Madrid final.
Draper could become the first British man to reach the last four in the Italian capital since 2016, when Andy Murray was beaten by Novak Djokovic in the final.
The winner of this match will then face one of the title champion of Rome Alexander Zverev and Home Hope Lorenzo Musetti, the last twinning of the day on the central field.
(With the exception of the title, this story has not been published by NDTV staff and is published from a unionized flow.)
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