Jasmine Paolini Makes History at the Italian Open
On Saturday, Jasmine Paolini achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first Italian woman in 40 years to win the singles title at the Italian Open. She triumphed over world No. 3 Coco Gauff with a convincing score of 6-4, 6-2.
Cheered on by an enthusiastic crowd in Rome at the Foro Italico, the 29-year-old from Tuscany displayed a strong and confident performance. This victory marks the biggest clay court title of her career and adds another WTA 1000 crown to her name, following her earlier win in Dubai last year. Paolini is the first Italian woman to win the trophy in Rome during the Open Era, with the last titleholder being Raffaella Reggi in 1985.
"It’s pure joy to hold this trophy in Rome, my home," Paolini expressed with gratitude. She also took a moment to commend her opponent, saying, "Congrats on a great week, Coco. You’re an amazing player and person."
As she gears up to return to a career-high world No. 4 ranking on Monday, Paolini took control early in the final match, winning a closely fought first set in 54 minutes. She quickly established a 3-0 lead in the second set and finished the match in just under 90 minutes.
Gauff, the reigning U.S. Open champion, faced challenges with consistency, committing 55 unforced errors throughout the match. Paolini maintained her focus and won 76% of her first serves. Despite Gauff’s strong performance earlier in the week, including wins over Zheng Qinwen, Mirra Andreeva, and Emma Raducanu, she couldn’t keep pace with Paolini in the final.
"[Paolini] made me play that way," Gauff said after the match. "I could have served better and played more balls in the court. But she played to win, and she truly deserved it."
Gauff also congratulated Paolini on her success, adding, "You’re an incredible person and player. Good luck in the doubles final; I hope you take the trophy home."
As the French Open approaches on May 25, Paolini is filled with confidence, becoming Italy’s first champion in Rome since Reggi. She also stands a chance to claim another title on Sunday when she partners with Sara Errani in the women’s doubles final.
