The American was a set and a break down and even saved a match point as her inconsistent run in Rome continued to test her resilience.
She eventually fought back to win 5-7, 7-5, 6-2, booking her place in the quarter-finals for the third consecutive year and setting up a last-eight clash with Mirra Andreeva.
Gauff credited her coaching team for helping her turn the match around but acknowledged she will need to raise her level if she is to contend for a maiden Italian Open title. She has already outlined adjustments she wants to make ahead of her meeting with Andreeva.
Talking about her improvements in her post-match press conference, the American revealed: “Honestly the starts have been fine. My first round I was up a break. Today I was up a break in the first. I think I was up 3-1, 30-Love, too.
“I think for me it’s more focusing on staying on top of the opponent when I do have the lead in the first set. I think it’s a learning experience. I’m not disappointed.
“I played two quality opponents, Eva being top 20. I’m not Jannik. I think I’m going to lose some sets. Obviously the goal is to definitely start those matches… I guess I’m starting them fine, but continue to close out the first sets so I don’t have to go three hours on the court.”
Gauff has already dropped 32 games across her opening three matches in Rome, including sets lost against Iva Jovic and Solana Sierra, underlining the inconsistency that has marked her campaign so far.
Despite her patchy form, the American has shown resilience throughout the tournament, repeatedly finding a way to stay alive in matches where she has been pushed to the brink.
She admitted as much after her win over Jovic, revealing she had feared her run was over when she faced a match point in the second set.
“On that match point, my head was almost to the locker room, to be honest. I was like, Well, I’m going to hear a lot about this one. Then after, I don’t know, I was able to get through it,” she said.
“I think she maybe dropped a little bit her level when she had the lead. It was able to help me get back into the match. I was thinking about my match in Dubai when I saved like five or six against Mertens. I was like, ‘Maybe I can do it again today.'”
