Coco Gauff has battled her way into the Italian Open final, and she's not hiding just how grueling the journey has been. The two-time Grand Slam champion defeated Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 6-3 in the semifinals, finally earning a straight-sets victory after three consecutive three-set marathons in Rome.

"I'm just happy to be through in straight sets today," Gauff said after the match, a visible sense of relief in her voice. "It's been a marathon week, but I'm really happy to be back here in the final."

The 20-year-old American's path to the title match was nothing short of dramatic. In the fourth round, she saved a match point against Iva Jovic, a moment she credits as the turning point of her tournament. "I think getting through that match, where I wasn't playing my best, really helped me. After that, I've been getting better and better with each one," Gauff reflected.

Now, Gauff awaits the winner of the semifinal between Iga Swiatek and Elina Svitolina, set for May 14th. Interestingly, recent history suggests Gauff might actually prefer facing the higher-ranked Swiatek. After dropping 11 of their first 12 meetings, Gauff has won four straight against the world No. 1, closing the gap to an 11-5 head-to-head deficit. Meanwhile, Svitolina has taken two consecutive wins against Gauff earlier this season, flipping their series in her favor.

Whoever emerges from Thursday's semifinal will face Gauff in Saturday's championship match on May 16th. For a player who was one point away from elimination just days ago, reaching the final in Rome is a testament to her resilience—and a powerful statement ahead of the French Open.