Coco Gauff secured an epic victory over Zheng Qinwen at the Rome Open 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(4), to earn her spot in the Rome Open final. The duel was the longest match in WTA Rome Open history, with three hours and 33 minutes of play.

In the Rome final, Gauff will clash against home favorite Jasmine Paolini. The American leads their head-to-head 2-1 but the fifth-ranked Italian won their most recent meeting in Stuttgart in April.

Gauff’s victory comes just days after another major moment in Rome: the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, who was chosen last week at the conclusion of the papal conclave. The event drew global attention to the Vatican — including from Gauff herself.