Jasmine Paolini Beats Gauff, Wins Historic Rome Title

ROME — Jasmine Paolini made history on Saturday by becoming the first Italian woman in 40 years to win the singles title at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, defeating American star Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-2 in a commanding straight-sets final.

Paolini, the sixth seed, needed just one hour and 29 minutes to dispatch the fourth-seeded Gauff, delighting a packed home crowd at the Foro Italico and etching her name in the record books alongside Raffaella Reggi, who last won the event for Italy in 1985.

“It doesn’t seem real to me,” said an emotional Paolini after the match. “I came here as a kid to see this tournament, but winning it and holding up this trophy wasn’t even in my dreams.”

This marks Paolini’s third career WTA singles title and her first on clay, highlighting her evolution into a world-class player capable of challenging the sport’s elite on all surfaces.

She also evened her head-to-head record with Gauff at 2-2, with each player now owning two wins—Paolini’s both coming on clay, Gauff’s on hard courts.

Gauff struggled with her serve throughout the match, landing just 53 percent of her first serves and committing seven double faults—statistical contrasts that proved costly against the composed and efficient Italian.

Paolini, by contrast, was clinical under pressure, converting five of seven break point chances and serving without a single double fault.

Her precision and poise on the clay stood out against Gauff’s inconsistent rhythm, allowing her to control rallies and dictate the pace from the baseline.

The win puts Paolini at the forefront of Italy’s tennis resurgence, arriving during a golden moment for Italian tennis on both the women’s and men’s tours.

Sunday could bring even more glory, as Paolini will team up with fellow Italian Sara Errani in the women’s doubles final, where they will face Veronika Kudermetova of Russia and Elise Mertens of Belgium.

If victorious, Paolini would become the first woman since Russia’s Vera Zvonareva in 2009 to sweep both the singles and doubles titles at a WTA 1000 event.

“It’s been two incredible weeks and it’s not finished yet,” Paolini said, hinting at the possibility of even more Italian triumph in Rome.

Gauff, despite the loss, remained gracious in defeat and praised her opponent’s performance.

“I have had a great time here in Rome,” Gauff said. “I have lost in the semis twice, so I was happy to make it to the final.”

She also offered encouragement to Paolini: “It’s always tough playing you. Good luck [Sunday] in the doubles final—I hope you guys can take it home.”

The Rome crowd will also be watching their national hero Jannik Sinner on Sunday as the world No. 1 prepares to face Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s singles final.

It will be Sinner’s first tournament since serving a 90-day doping suspension, and like Paolini, he has a chance to make history.

A win would make Sinner the first Italian man to win the Rome title since Adriano Panatta defeated top-seeded Guillermo Vilas in 1976—49 years ago.

Panatta, a former French Open champion, remains the only Italian man to ever win both titles.

Should both Paolini and Sinner win on Sunday, it would mark the first time since the tournament’s founding that Italy has swept the singles titles in the same year.

Paolini’s performance has already electrified the home crowd and elevated her status as a national sporting figure.

A doubles victory on Sunday would further cement her place in Italy’s tennis lore.

“She’s now the face of Italian women’s tennis,” said former pro Flavia Pennetta during post-match commentary. “And she’s earned it.”

With a career-best season underway and strong clay-court form heading into Roland Garros, Paolini now stands as a legitimate contender in Paris and a symbol of Italy’s growing dominance on the global tennis stage.