Sorana Cîrstea found out her opponent from the semi-final in Rome! He met her two weeks ago in Madrid

The second quarter-final on the women's draw in Rome scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, was to determine Sorana Cîrstea's opponent in the semifinals of the WTA 1000 category tournament. The Romanian reached her best result – but not definitively – in the Italian capital after a sure victory against Jelena Ostapenko (28 years old, world number 36), 6-1, 7-6 (0).

Coco Gauff or Mirra Andreeva? The two entered the Foro Italico's Campo Centrale shortly after 19:00 local time, ready to play their fifth straight match, one that would break the tie until then, 2-2. In the end it would be Gauff, but after what a battle!

Gauff leads Cîrstea 3-0 in direct matches, two on hard, one on clay.

• Australian Open 2020 » round 2 » 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
• Miami 2026 » eighth » 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
• Madrid 2026 » round 3 » 4-6, 7-5, 6-1

The Russian still had the final in Madrid relatively fresh in her memory and she also put another clay trophy on display this year, the one from Linz. The American, on the other hand, played only two contests on the red surface before Rome, with “quarters” at Stuttgart and “optimums” at Madrid. It was their fourth meeting on clay, the most recent being in Rome last year, which Coco won in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6 (5).

Before the tournament in Rome, Sorana Cîrstea she had lost only two matches on clay, both against those who faced each other in the semi-finals at the Foro Italico. Andreeva stopped her progress on the WTA 250 table in Linz in the “quarters”, and Gauff defeated her in the 3rd round in Madrid, where the “tricolor” led by one set and 4-3.

First set for Andreeva, Gauff vulnerable on serve

A dispute that proposed an alert and perhaps unexpectedly offensive tennis at some moments. The first act was marked by a noticeable dose of insecurity on serve from the reigning Roland Garros champion. Gauff saved 3 of her opponent's 5 break points, not enough to protect herself, while Andreeva lost her serve once.

With noticeably low percentages, 63% success on the first ball and 44 on the second, Coco transferred the vulnerability from the service to the rest of the game, being as if always looking for solutions. Mirra, however, occasionally advised from the stands by Conchita Martinez, her coach, hit more precisely and with clearer targets. That's how he managed to capture the first act, 6-4 in 38 minutes.

10Andreeva had winning shots in the 1st set and 7 unforced errors, and Gauff exactly the opposite, 7 winners and 10 errors

The second part started with an atypical range on the American's service, in which the two organized a festival of raids to the net, volleys and lobs. The crowd applauded this strategy rarely seen in women's tennis with such frequency. There were also lobs, a unique and tasty show, Gauff coming out well with a saved break point.

Played to perfection 💯@CocoGauff | #IBI26 | @WTA pic.twitter.com/Ky2SDs71yL

— Internazionali BNL d'Italia (@InteBNLdItalia) May 12, 2026

That gave him the courage to continue the offensive and distance himself to 3-0 and 4-1with a hint of frustration from Andreeva, who slammed her racket. Increasingly confused in her decisions and with her service faltering, the Russian gave in, 6-2 in set 2 for the American woman.

Coco Gauff prevailed on the fifth match ball!

The dominance was also clearly seen in the numbers: 4 poisonous double faults to Mirra, 11 unforced errors, while Coco hit the winning straight 8 times to 5.

The decider began with a desperate cry from her box for the Madrid finalist: “Mirra, change something!“. And that's what he did in the first game, winning against serve, only to immediately follow a Coco break. And another one for 3-1.

Down a double break in the third set in R3.
Down a set, a break, and match point in the R16.
Down a break in the third set in the quarterfinals.

AND STILL. ✊@CocoGauff | #IBI26 | @WTA pic.twitter.com/z8MRtPy4eI

— Internazionali BNL d'Italia (@InteBNLdItalia) May 12, 2026

As if immersed in her own world, deaf to the advice coming from her own team, Andreeva had a different attitude from the brash, loud one of her opponent. Mirra tried different things, short, changes of pace, but against the fast Coco the chances were slim. Even so, he capitalized on them, coming to 2-5 when the American was serving for the match. There followed a game calmly crossed by Andreeva and with a match point of her opponent saved.

And when it no longer seemed possible, looking from the outside, things took a different direction. Mirra also recovered the second break, still playing efficiently, aggressively, on well-designed routes and without any manifestation. The final game was a real epic, won by Coco Gauff on the fifth match point, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 in two hours and 20 minutes!