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<\/p>\nCoco Gauff came through a difficult test in the third round of the Italian Open against Solana Sierra.<\/p>\n
The American fought back from a set down against the Argentine to advance to the round of 16 in Rome, 5-7, 6-0, 6-4.<\/p>\n
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Gauff has struggled to get going during the clay swing so far, having suffered early exits in both Stuttgart and Madrid.<\/p>\n
Following her triumph over Sierra in Rome, the 22-year-old admitted she was in a \u2018weird\u2019 space mentally.<\/p>\n
Sierra now leads their head-to-head battle after defeating Gauff at last year\u2019s French Open. The world No.3 hopes she will eventually be able to take control when facing her opponent.<\/p>\n
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Photo by Rich Storry\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Coco Gauff says her mind is in a \u2018different place\u2019 right now<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cI feel like I have solutions with my game. I\u2019m serving a lot better, returning, just doing everything better than I was in that period.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cI think for most of my career I\u2019ve been having to only focus on my game. So it\u2019s weird when your mind is in a different place. You\u2019re also feeling confident on court.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know, that\u2019s what I felt today. I do feel, like, pretty confident in my game right now. So yeah, I think I just have to mesh it all together. I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
This year, Gauff is the third seed at the Italian Open and will be hoping to build on last year\u2019s performance, where she reached the final but lost to Aryna Sabalenka.<\/p>\n
Coco Gauff reflects on her win over Solana Sierra at the Italian Open<\/p>\n
Reflecting on the match, Gauff said: \u201cYeah, it was a tough day for me. It\u2019s one of those days where you don\u2019t feel great, and you have to play a match. It\u2019s like, I can\u2019t cuss, but yeah. That was today. I\u2019m happy I got through it.<\/p>\n
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\u201cYeah, one of those days I just didn\u2019t feel, I guess, motivated to go on the court. Then when you\u2019re on the court, you\u2019re motivated. You get too frustrated.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust personal things off court that I\u2019m just trying to get through, so\u2026 Yeah, but then you also remember how much fun you have. I think my regret today was not enjoying the battle, for sure.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been going through it for a few months. I mean, good days and bad days, yeah.<\/p>\n
The world number three said she tries to stay focused by reminding herself of those who support her. Gauff is chasing her first title of 2026 in Rome and her first since winning in Wuhan last October.<\/p>\n
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