Coco Gauff joins Iga Swiatek in rare WTA company after Italian Open win

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Coco Gauff has moved into the second round of the Italian Open following a straight-sets win over Tereza Valentova.

Gauff was in control throughout, sealing a 6-3, 6-4 victory on Centre Court to set up a meeting with Lucia Bronzetti next.

The American is under some pressure this week as she looks to defend the 650 WTA ranking points from last year’s runner-up finish. So far, she’s handled it well.

Gauff’s performance adds to her growing list of milestones. She joins Iga Swiatek as one of only two women to have won at least 25 main draw matches at both WTA 1000 and Grand Slam events before turning 21.

Gauff’s milestone win adds to her record on clay​

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According to OptaAce, Gauff is now the second player after Swiatek to reach 30 wins in clay WTA-1000 tournaments before turning 23 since the format was introduced in 2009.

Swiatek finished with 33 wins before her 23rd birthday, and with Gauff still only 21, she looks likely to surpass that mark sooner rather than later.

Her next chance comes against either Solana Sierra or Anhelina Kalinina, both of whom she has beaten comfortably in their only previous meetings.

Coco Gauff shares thoughts on her win over Tereza Valentova​

Speaking after the match, Gauff admitted she let a few chances slip away.

“I had a couple of game points, and I just didn’t really take them,” she said in her post-match interview.

“I was giving myself a lot of opportunities, but it was tough. In the first set, there were a lot of errors in the beginning, both of us didn’t have much of a rhythm, then she raised her level. “I had a lot of opportunities, but I’m glad to get through today.”

Gauff also took time to praise Valentova during her post-match press conference.

“Today she definitely stepped up her level. Yeah, I think she’s super talented. I mean, the Czech roster; they have a good roster. They definitely have a good addition with her.”

Read more:

• Arthur Fils gives honest answer to question about Jannik Sinner gap
• Coco Gauff cites Rafael Nadal quote and mentality after strong Italian Open start
• Coco Gauff explains how Rafael Nadal changed her mindset

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