WTA 1000 Rome
Jasmine Paolini, world No. 5 and coached by Spaniard Marc López, etched her name in Italian tennis history with a stunning 6-4, 6-2 victory over American Coco Gauff to claim the WTA 1000 title in Rome. It marked the first time in 40 years that an Italian woman has lifted the trophy on home soil.
Italy had not seen one of its own win the tournament since 1985, when Raffaella Reggi triumphed in Taranto, back when the Italian clay-court event was held outside of Rome. The occasion was so historic that the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, attended the final at the Foro Italico to witness the first Italian finalist in 11 years.
Paolini wasn’t considered one of the favorites coming into the tournament, with stars like Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff in the draw. However, she played fearless tennis throughout the week. In contrast, Gauff struggled to find her rhythm in the final—overhitting, missing critical points, and failing to gain traction on serve, eventually losing her grip on the match.
With this title, Paolini will rise to a career-high world No. 4 on Monday, overtaking Iga Swiatek and establishing herself as a strong contender for the upcoming Roland Garros.
Italian Women in Tennis History
Jasmine Paolini now joins the ranks of Italy’s finest female players. Before her, Flavia Pennetta made history by winning the 2015 US Open, while Francesca Schiavone was crowned champion at Roland Garros in 2010. Sara Errani also reached the French Open final in 2012 and was once ranked as high as world No. 5. Together, these women helped define a golden era for Italian women’s tennis, paving the way for Paolini’s current rise.