Ukraine's Svitolina hadn't claimed a WTA 1000 title since her last victory at the Foro Italico eight years ago but prevailed over the ever-erratic Gauff.

The seventh seed was unspectacular but solid all tournament and her reliable style allowed her to claim her 20th tournament triumph.

American star Gauff, a two-time Grand Slam champion, was aiming to become the first American to win in the Italian capital since Serena Williams in 2016.

Gauff had been strong favourite to go one better here than last year, when she was beaten by Jasmine Paolini, but the problems with her serve which have so long dogged her game began to resurface on centre court.

Her serve was broken three times by Svitolina on her way to losing the first set, thanks in part to four double-faults, two of which came in the game which allowed her opponent to move ahead in the match.

At 5-4 down she hit a bizarre second serve which flew into the wrong side of the court, before gifting Svitolina the advantage by another double-fault at set point.

A livid Gauff then smacked herself on the head with her own racket before storming down the tunnel, emerging shortly afterwards to have a heated discussion with her coach Jean-Christophe Faurel.

That talking to seemed to turn things around as Gauff got a handle on her serve in a hard-fought second set which featured some fun rallies, particularly as she won the tie-break.

But two more breaks of serve cost Gauff her first tournament win of the season with her French Open title defence starting next weekend.

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