Jasmine Paolini etched her name into Italian tennis history on Saturday, defeating Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-2 to become the first homegrown champion at Rome's Italian Open in 40 years. The victory sets the stage for a potential historic sweep as Jannik Sinner prepares to face Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday's men's final.
Paolini's triumph marks the first Italian women's singles title since Raffaella Reggi's 1985 win, while Adriano Panatta's 1976 victory remains the last men's title for a local player. The 29-year-old sealed her victory with a powerful serve that left Gauff scrambling, prompting an emotional celebration as she spun joyfully on the clay court.
"It doesn't seem real to me," Paolini told the roaring crowd at Foro Italico. "I came here as a kid to watch this tournament, but holding this trophy wasn't even in my dreams." Fans responded with thunderous chants of "Ole, ole, ole, Jas-mine," while Italian President Sergio Mattarella looked on from the stands.
The world No. 5's victory comes amid Italy's tennis renaissance, with Paolini already boasting a 2023 Billie Jean King Cup title and Olympic doubles gold. Her ranking will rise to No. 4 ahead of next week's French Open, improving her seeding at Roland-Garros.
All eyes now turn to Sunday's men's final, where Sinner could complete Italy's first-ever singles title sweep at the tournament. Paolini remains in contention for doubles glory alongside Sara Errani, adding another layer to this remarkable Italian sporting narrative.
