Gauff’s victory comes just days after another major moment in Rome: the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, who was chosen last week at the conclusion of the papal conclave. The event drew global attention to the Vatican — including from Gauff herself.

Gauff opened the first set with a love service game and earned a crucial break in the eighth game, though Andreeva immediately responded

ROME (AP) — Coco Gauff extended her unbeaten streak against Mirra Andreeva to reach the Italian Open semifinals on Wednesday. Gauff played aggressively throughout to advance to the last four at the clay-court tournament for the third time with a 6-4, 7-6 (5) win.

The world No. 1 was rusty on his first match back after three months away. His Italian Open draw means he cannot afford to be so for long.

American tennis star Coco Gauff put on a dominant display as she eased past Emma Raducanu on Monday to book her spot in the Italian Open quarterfinals.

Zheng, meanwhile, remained unfazed by the drama and maintained her focus, edging closer to a potential breakthrough title.

Top-ranked Jannik Sinner overcame a brief lapse during the first set of a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Dutch qualifier Jesper De Jong in his second match back on tour in front of his home crowd at the Italia

Leo is an avid tennis player and fan and had said earlier this week that he would be up for a charity match when it was suggested by a journalist.

Plastic sheets cover the field during a thunderstorm prior to the start round of sixteen match between Jannik Sinner and Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome,

In the women's draw, Coco Gauff will be hoping to follow up her thumping win over Raducanu by beating Mirra Andreeva, while Aryna Sabalenka faces a similarly tricky test against Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen.