Under the twilight glow of Rome’s Foro Italico, Coco Gauff, the world No. 3 and fourth seed, staged a riveting comeback to defeat Canadian qualifier Victoria Mboko 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 in the second round of the 2025 Italian Open. The match, a 1-hour-43-minute rollercoaster, saw Gauff overcome an early deficit to advance to the third round, marking her sixth consecutive opening win at this prestigious clay-court event. Her victory was not just a testament to her resilience but also to her meticulous preparation, as she revealed insights gained from studying Mboko’s game footage, which proved pivotal in turning the tide.
The 18-year-old Mboko, ranked No. 156, entered the match as a formidable underdog with a staggering 33-3 record in 2025, primarily on the ITF circuit, where she clinched five titles. Her aggressive style and lightning-fast movement made her a dangerous opponent, as Gauff had anticipated. “I knew she was going to do that just from watching some of her previous matches,” Gauff said, acknowledging Mboko’s ability to compete at a high level. She noted the Canadian’s exceptional court coverage, remarking, “I felt like I was playing myself. I think I move pretty well, and she moves very well… As far as the movement, I think she’s up there with me on that.” This scouting paid dividends as Gauff adjusted her tactics to counter Mboko’s speed and flat forehand, which had initially disrupted her rhythm.
The first set was a wake-up call for Gauff. Mboko broke her serve three times, capitalizing on Gauff’s eight double faults and 18 unforced errors to claim a 6-3 lead. The Canadian’s net play was particularly impressive, with flicked groundstrokes and a blazing swing volley that left Gauff scrambling. “It was a tough match,” Gauff admitted. “Victoria, she came out playing some great tennis.” But the 21-year-old American, fresh off a Madrid Open final run where she toppled Iga Swiatek, drew on her experience. She reset her focus, much like she did after dropping the first set 6-0 to Dayana Yastremska in Madrid, and transformed the match’s complexion.
In the second set, Gauff sharpened her game, slashing unforced errors to seven and breaking Mboko’s serve four times to level the score at 6-2. Her 25 winners, nearly double Mboko’s 13, began to flow as she unleashed powerful groundstrokes and converted nine of 13 break points. By the third set, Gauff was in full command, her double faults vanishing as she raced to a 6-1 rout. “I was able to reset,” she told the Campo Centrale crowd. “I wasn’t playing so well in the first set, and on top of that, she was playing some great tennis, but I was able to step up my game.”
Gauff’s sportsmanship shone post-match as she offered words of encouragement to Mboko at the net: “Keep your head up, okay? You did great.” The gesture reflected her respect for the Canadian, who pushed then-No. 11 Paula Badosa to a third-set tiebreaker in Miami earlier this year. “I’ve been following her since the Miami Open, and I think she’s a great player,” Gauff added, recognizing Mboko’s potential to climb the ranks.
Now, Gauff faces Poland’s Magda Linette, the No. 32 seed, who staged her own comeback against Maria Sakkari. Despite Linette’s 6-4, 6-4 win over Gauff in Miami, Gauff leads their head-to-head 2-1 and is buoyed by her clay-court pedigree, having reached Rome’s semifinals in 2021 and 2024. With a potential fourth-round clash against Emma Raducanu or Amanda Anisimova looming, Gauff’s Rome campaign is a critical step toward her first title of 2025 and a strong French Open showing. Her ability to analyze and adapt against rising stars like Mboko proves she’s not just a champion but a student of the game, ready to conquer the clay.
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