Coco Gauff once again proved why she's a champion, but the reigning French Open winner knows she'll need to raise her game if she wants to defend her title at Roland Garros later this month.

The world number four staged another dramatic comeback in Rome, saving a match point to defeat 18-year-old American Iva Jovic 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 in the Italian Open fourth round. It was the second consecutive match where Gauff had to rally from a set down, following her escape against Argentina's Solana Sierra in the previous round.

For a moment, it looked like Gauff's French Open preparations were heading for a serious setback. Trailing 7-5, 5-3 against the teenager, the 2023 Roland Garros champion was struggling with her footwork and misfiring forehand in challenging windy conditions at the Foro Italico. Even the roar of fighter jets overhead added to the chaos.

But when Jovic missed a tight forehand into the net on match point, the momentum shifted. The 17th-ranked teenager then became distracted by a cut on her finger from an earlier fall, and Gauff seized the opportunity with the gritty determination that has defined her rise to the top.

"I'm just proud — Iva played really good tennis and the conditions weren't the easiest," said Gauff, who will face Russian eighth seed Mirra Andreeva in the quarterfinals. "Thanks to my team — their pep talk helped me mentally."

The victory keeps Gauff's hopes alive of matching her run to the Italian Open final last year, but more importantly, it buys her time to find her form before the French Open begins on May 24. After early exits in Stuttgart (quarterfinals) and Madrid (last 16), the 20-year-old knows she needs to sharpen up quickly.

For tennis fans and players alike, Gauff's resilience is a reminder that champions find a way even when they're not at their best. Whether she can elevate her game in time for Paris remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: she'll never go down without a fight.