Third-seeded Coco Gauff is up and running in the Eternal City.
The American defeated Czechia’s Tereza Valentova, 6-3, 6-4, on Thursday to reach the third round, winning a 94-minute contest that fluctuated in quality. Gauff struck 15 winners and 29 unforced errors, won 53 percent of her service points and tossed in seven double faults, but claimed 62 percent of return points to turn the tide against the Rome debutante.
Last year’s runner-up will face either Solana Sierra or Anhelina Kalinina in the third round. The 22-year-old is in the top half of the draw, alongside top seed Aryna Sabalenka and eighth seed Mirra Andreeva.
Gauff, who has also reached two semifinals in Rome, improved to 18-6 lifetime at the Foro Italico with the victory.
She saved six of 10 break points and converted six breaks of her own.
“I was giving myself a lot of opportunities,” Gauff said. “But it was tough. In the first set, there were a lot of errors in the beginning, so I think both of us didn’t have much rhythm. Then she raised her level and had a lot of opportunities, but I’m glad to get through today.”
The reigning Roland-Garros champion entered the week with a 3-2 record on clay after quarterfinal losses in Stuttgart and Madrid. She’s hoping Rome will be the tournament where she solidifies her status as a potential repeat champion in Paris next month.
“All it takes is one good week, and your season can go from bad to good,” she said.
Seeds entered the action on Thursday in Rome as No. 8 seed Mirra Andreeva raced past Antonia Ruzic, 6-1, 6-0, while China’s Zheng Qinwen defeated 30th-seeded Cristina Bucsa, 7-6(6), 6-2.
In other action, No. 9 seed Jasmine Paolini defeated Leolia Jeanjean, 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-4, while 13th-seeded Linda Noskova (6-4, 6-1 over Anastasia Zakharova) and 26th-seeded Sorana Cirstea (6-2, 6-0 over Tatjana Maria) were also winners.
Clara Tauson was defeated by Oleksandra Oliynykova, 6-1, 3-1 ret.
