Coco Gauff Lays Bare Internal Struggles with ‘Horror Movies’ Joke After Rome Heartbreak

Coco Gauff once again couldn’t end her title drought. On Saturday (May 16), the American ace suffered a three-set defeat at the hands of Elina Svitolina in the semifinal of the Italian Open.

This is the second consecutive time that Gauff lost the Italian Open final. Last year, it was home favorite Jasmine Paolini who dashed her hopes.

This is the third time Gauff has lost to Svitolina this season, following their match in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and the semifinal of the Dubai Tennis Championships. Also, Gauff lost a final for the second time this year after losing the title clash of the Miami Open to World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka.

After another heartbreak, the 22-year-old took to Instagram and joked about her internal struggles.

top 5 horror movies 1. sitting through a trophy ceremony after you lose 2. talking after you lose 3. smiling with your finalist trophy 4. sitting through trophy ceremony when you lose 5. ceremony after you lose.

While Gauff has not tasted success since winning her third WTA 1000 singles title at the 2025 Wuhan Open, Svitolina clinched her fifth WTA 1000 title. The Ukrainian ace also came close to winning this year’s Dubai Tennis Championships, but couldn’t go past Jessica Pegula.

Also before the think pieces come…. this is a joke and i’m smiling while writing this thought it would be funny. not meant to be taken seriously lol before the ppl with no humor get mad.

Coco Gauff added

Check out her post here:

Svitolina has now become a three-time champion in Rome. Back in 2017 and 2018, she defeated Simona Halep in the final. The Rome title was also Svitolina’s second title of the season. Back in January, she lifted the ASB Classic against Wang Xinyu. Next is the French Open, and Svitolina will be hoping to make it past the quarterfinals for the first time.

It’s the only Major where she has not yet played the semifinals. Last year as well, her run in the clay-court Major ended in the last eight.

Coco Gauff on her mindset for the French Open

Coco Gauff‘s next task is to defend the French Open. Last year, after losing to Aryna Sabalenka in the Madrid Open final and to Jasmine Paolini in Rome, Gauff took her revenge on the Belarusian ace in the French Open final, winning her second Major singles title. At the press conference after her latest defeat, Gauff talked about her mindset for Roland Garros.

There are many positive things I can take from this tournament and much that I can learn. I’m sure the pressure will be there. I think this week I’ve experienced all the ups and downs of a tournament that can lead you to a Grand Slam: I’ve been down in the score, I had an advantage, lost it, been in the final, had match point… I think I’ve experienced all the scenarios that can prepare me for Roland Garros. I hope to learn from each situation and improve.

Gauff has so far played two singles finals at the French Open. In her third main draw appearance back in 2022, Gauff lost easily to six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek in the final.

Gauff also has one doubles title in the clay-court Grand Slam tournament. Back in 2022, the pair of Gauff and Jessica Pegula suffered a three-set defeat at the hands of Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic. But in 2024, Gauff and Katerina Siniakova defeated the Italian pair of Sara Errani and Paolini. Gauff has so far lifted two singles titles on clay: the 2025 French Open and the 2021 Emilia-Romagna Open.

Also read: Daniil Medvedev Keeps it Real on Potentially Playing like a Top-3 Player After Italian Open Loss