Elina Svitolina sets up blockbuster Italian Open final against Coco Gauff

The Ukrainian has delivered some incredible performances since returning from the birth of her first child and Thursday's victory on the clay courts of Rome was another superlative result.

Svitolina saved 16 break points in her quarterfinal win over Elena Rybakina and continued this trend against Swiatek. She saved 11 of 16 break points, including all five she faced in the final set as she ground out a telling win. Swiatek will lament her infirced error count, which hit the 50 mark while only hitting 28 winners.

"The feeling is just unreal to be after so many years here again in the final," said the 31-year-old, who won in Rome in 2017 and 2018.

"Itâ™s such an amazing feeling to do it in such a great way, I think."

Svitolina now faces Gauff in the final, a player nine years her junior. She has already beaten the American twice this year.

"I definitely have a game plan," continued the world number ten, who beat Gauff in a three-hour epic in Dubai in February.

"Not now exactly, but I will have it. Weâ™ve played many times. Itâ™s not a surprise. We both know the way we bring the fight. Our last match was something out of this world."

Earlier, Gauff defeated 27th-ranked Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 6-3 in her semifinals to progress to her second successive final at the WTA 1000 tournament.

Gauff, who has long been plagued by issues with her second serve, hit only one double fault as she claimed a convincing win.

"I thought today was a much cleaner match for me than some of my previous matches," said the two-time major winner.

"Sorana is a great opponent, great player. Very happy with this win."

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