BREAKING: Coco Gauff Overcomes Fast-Rising Teen Victoria Mboko in Thrilling Three-Set Comeback at 2025 Internazionali BNL d’Italia
Coco Gauff, the fourth-seeded American, fought back from a set down to defeat Canadian qualifier Victoria Mboko 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 in a gripping second-round match at the 2025 Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Friday. The 18-year-old Gauff, a two-time semifinalist at the Rome Masters, held off the challenge from 156th-ranked Mboko, who reached the third round in her second consecutive WTA 1000 main draw event. Despite dropping the first set, Gauff showed her resilience, reducing her unforced errors and converting nine of her 13 breakpoints to secure the victory after 1 hour and 43 minutes. Gauff will next face Poland’s Magda Linette in the third round, after Linette’s comeback win over Maria Sakkari.
Coco Gauff Survives Scare From Teen Sensation Mboko in Rome
ROME – In a thrilling encounter on clay, the in-form Coco Gauff outlasted Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 at the 2025 Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Friday night, testament to the American’s resilience and growing prowess on the clay.
Preview to a Potential Teen Showdown
On the other hand, fourth-seeded Gauff, at 18, is no stranger to early success. She burst onto the scene as a 15-year-old, and her career-best showing at the Foro Italico came in 2021 and 2024, where she reached the semifinals, losing to Iga Swiatek both times.
Anatomy of a Comeback
Gauff started the match strongly, breaking Mboko at love for a quick 2-0 lead. However, the Canadian teenager dug deep, employing clever tactics and solid shotmaking to keep Gauff on her toes. Mboko’s defensive skills and well-executed shots rattled Gauff, drawing errors and double faults from the American.
Mboko capitalized, racing to a 5-2 lead and earning a set point after Gauff’s back-to-back double faults. The Canadian teenager converted, sending a net cord forehand past Gauff to take the opening set 6-3.
Deja Vu for Gauff
Two weeks prior in Madrid, Gauff faced a similar predicament against Dayana Yastremska, losing the first set 6-0. Gauff overcame that deficit, and history repeated itself in Rome. She broke Mboko’s serve four times in the second set, leveling the match at one set apiece, committing just seven unforced errors compared to the 18 in the opening set.
In the decisive third set, Gauff locked in, winning the final six games unanswered, and denying Mboko what would have been a significant upset in her first career meeting with a top-10 player.
By the Numbers
- Gauff finished the match with 25 winners, nearly double Mboko’s 13.
- Gauff converted nine of her 13 break points, showcasing her clinical finishing at the crucial moments.
- Gauff’s record in opening matches at the Foro Italico improves to 6-0.
Next Up: Gauff vs. Linette
Gauff will face No. 32 seed Magda Linette in the third round after the Pole’s comeback win over former World No. 3 Maria Sakkari. Gauff holds a 2-1 head-to-head advantage, but Linette won their most recent meeting at the Miami Open.
Did you know?
Mbrites 17-year-old Victoria Mboko is the first Canadian to win a WTA Tour singles title (Vancouver 2024).
Pro Tip
Gauff’s serve is a powerful weapon, particularly on clay. She won 72% of points behind her first serve in this match.
FAQ
Is Coco Gauff a clay-court specialist?
Gauff has shown promising results on clay, reaching the semifinals in Rome twice, but she is not known as a clay-court specialist yet. She has demonstrated inconsistency on the surface, especially compared to her prowess on hard courts.
Can Victoria Mboko continue her rise up the rankings?
Mboko’s rise to No. 156 in the rankings is impressive, but it remains to be seen if she can maintain this momentum. Consistency and improving results against higher-ranked players will be key for her to climb further.
Stay Tuned!
Don’t miss Gauff’s upcoming third-round clash against Magda Linette. Leave your predictions in the comments, and explore more of our coverage of the 2025 Internazionali BNL d’Italia.