Svitolina wins the title in Rome and a higher bonus than the men
The Ukrainian beat Coco Gauff in three sets (6-4 6-7 6-2) to win the WTA 1000 in Rome after eight years and 50,000 euros more than the winner of the men's tournament
Key points
Elina Svitolina beat Coco Gauff on the Foro Italico centre court in the women's final of the Internazionali d'Italia 2026 in three sets (6-4 6-7 6-2). It was a challenge that pitted two generations, two styles and two different paths against each other, but which were united by an extraordinary resilience. The Ukrainian tennis player took home the WTA 1000 title and a cheque for 1,055,285 euros, for the first time a higher amount than that which will go to the men's champion who will have to settle for 1,007,165 euros. Last year Carlos Alcaraz earned 985,000 euros Jasmine Paolini 877,000.
The match
The final was characterised by great intensity, with long ground exchanges and continuous changes of inertia, typical of the Roman clay court. Gauff started off strong, snatching her serve and trying to impose her aggressive rhythm, but Svitolina did not let up and with patience and lucidity, recovered the disadvantage and overturned the first set, winning 6-4.
The American took the blow, also emotionally, while the Ukrainian continued to grow, confirming her ability to handle crucial moments. The second set went on in the sign of balance until the tie break won by the 21-year-old American.
In the third set the pace dropped. The balance, however, was broken in the fifth game by a break by Svitolina who forced her serve again and put Gauff, increasingly exhausted, into crisis. The Ukrainian also managed to score an incredible point by climbing over the outside post and grabbing her third career title in Rome with a 6-2. Gauff for the second year in a row surrendered on the very last stage of the Internazionali (last year she lost to Paolini).
The Path to the Final
Coco Gauff reached the last act for the second year in a row in Rome after overcoming the surprising Sorana Cîrstea in the semifinals with a clear 6-4, 6-3. Her tournament, however, was by no means straightforward: the American had to come back several times, saving match points and overturning complicated games in the previous rounds, a sign of her growing maturity and mental resilience now as a great champion.
