ROME, Italy—Coco Gauff showed tremendous resilience at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, roaring back from a set down to defeat Paula Badosa, 5-7, 6-4, 6-1.
The reigning US Open champion has struggled with serving woes for much of the clay-court season, but played clutch tennis when it counted to survive an inspired performance from the former world No. 2 in two hours and 27 minutes on Grandstand Arena.
Both women were looking for a strong result at the Foro Italico after middling starts to the clay swing, Badosa struggling with injury at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix while Gauff suffered a surprising defeat to countrywoman Madison Keys at the Mutua Madrid Open.
Gauff spoke of reaching out to Badosa during the latter’s injury struggles over the last 18 months; Badosa’s chronic back injury forced her to miss much of the 2023 season and fall out of the Top 100.
“I think we’re pretty friendly on tour,” Gauff said previewing the match on Saturday. “We aren’t close friends. We’re definitely in different stages. I feel like that’s a lot of me on tour. I think she’s 25 maybe, so five years’ age gap. We’re never going to be close friends, but I’m definitely friendly with her on tour. I always root for her.”
Gauff was coming off a topsy-turvy third-round encounter with Jacqueline Cristian, who won a 6-0 second set before Gauff came back to win in three. Playing in Rome without a bye, Badosa twice came back from a set down, upsetting No. 21 seed Emma Navarro and knocking out Diana Shnaider to book the rematch with Gauff.
