Overview
- Coco Gauff opens in Rome with a second-round bye and will face Yulia Putintseva or Tereza Valentova.
- She is defending about 650 ranking points from last year’s Italian Open final, which puts her position in the WTA top four at risk if she exits early.
- A three-set loss to Linda Noskova in Madrid dropped her to No. 4 and intensified questions about her recent form.
- Rennae Stubbs criticized her shot selection and visible frustration in that match and urged more tactical guidance from her coaches.
- Gauff says Rome’s lower-altitude clay fits her game, reports feeling healthy after a brief illness in Madrid, and brings a 17-6 record at this tournament.