Paolini Makes History By Winning Rome Title

Jasmine Paolini, Rome
Jasmine Paolini (photo: Giampiero Sposito)

ROME/WASHINGTON, May 17, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)

By the time Jasmine Paolini secured championship point to win the biggest title of her professional career, just an hour and 29 minutes after she and her opponent, Coco Gauff, began the women’s singles final of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, she raised her arms in celebration and beamed a smile that radiated throughout Foro Italico and Rome at large on this late-spring Saturday evening.

The diminutive, 29-year-old from Castelnuovo di Garfagnana in the Tuscany region of Italy had made history. Her 6-4, 6-2 victory over World No. 3 Gauff from the United States made the World No. 5 Paolini the first Italian woman to win the Italian Open in 40 years. Not since Raffaella Reggi in 1985 had an Italian won it all in Rome. It would be home country glory for Paolini, who said in her trophy speech she never imagined as a little girl that she would win the title in Rome.

Paolini’s happy smile and bubbling victory dance about the court after she secured championship point spoke volumes. She won for herself, the home crowd, her family – even President Sergio Mattarella of Italy, who attended the title match.

One of three Italians to win a WTA 1000 title along with Flavia Pennetta and Camila Giorgi, Paolini became the first to win two WTA 1000 crowns following her earlier success last year in Dubai. She’s also the oldest player to win a maiden Rome title in the Open Era.

“It’s a huge emotion, I’m enjoying it to the fullest,” Paolini said during the trophy ceremony, translated from Italian. “I’m happy. I came onto the court with clear ideas; I played good tennis.”

While Gauff had always been a trailblazer on the tennis court, achieving a number of notable records – including winning the 2023 US Open at age 19, becoming the youngest American woman to win the title since Serena Williams – she was up against a very determined Paolini – and there was no denying the pride of Italian women’s tennis on this Saturday evening.

Coming into Saturday title match, played under mostly cloudy but dry skies, Gauff led the head-to-head 2-1, but Paolini won the only previous meeting on clay, last month in the quarterfinals at Stuttgart. Gauff’s two earlier wins came on hard courts, at Adelaide in 2021 and at Cincinnati in 2023. Both were looking to win their first title of the 2025 season.

Overall, Gauff was seeking her 10th career singles title, while Paolini was bidding for her third one. By the end of title final, it would be Paolini raising her fourth trophy high above her head.

As the championship match unfolded, there were three breaks of serve to open the final before Paolini held to build upon a 3-1 lead after 21 minutes. However, there was plenty of pressure felt by the Italian star – perhaps from the expectation of winning it all – and it made it a challenge for Paolini to do well.

Soon, Paolini won the first 53-minute set 6-4 with equal parts resilience and determination. She converted two of her three break points, which put her ahead 2-1 early on, and took advantage of 31 unforced errors by Gauff.

Next, Paolini began the second set the same way as the first with a break of her opponent’s serve, which was aided by Gauff’s sixth double fault of the match. Then, a set and break up, Paolini consolidated the break with authority for a 2-0 lead and broke Gauff, again, by winning an impressive 13-shot rally. The intensity of the crowd noise in support of Paolini increased as she took a 3-0 lead, needing to win just three more games.

Although Paolini gave one of the breaks back to Gauff in the next game, the American No. 1 was broken at love in the very next game – and her seventh double fault didn’t help matters. The Italian No. 1 hit a brilliant down-the-line forehand winner that left Gauff standing in her tracks with a puzzled look as Paolini increased her lead to 4-1. She consolidated the break with authority at 15 for a 5-1 advantage, just one game from the biggest victory of her career.

Not going down without a fight, Gauff held serve for 2-5. Then, it was Paolini’s turn to make history. She set up championship point when Gauff netted a fourth-shot forehand return. Gauff fought it off with a sixth-shot backhand winner, her 20th of the match. Then, as the match clock reached 1:29 and it was 6:38 p.m. in Rome, Paolini won the biggest title of her career on her second championship point. It happened after Gauff was unable to successfully return Paolini’s serve and, instead, hit it errantly. It was Gauff’s 55th unforced error.

Upon securing championship point for her 22nd victory of the season – and eighth career win in Rome – Paolini beamed a joyful smile and raised her arms in celebration. Her parents, coach Marc Lopez, and best friend Sara Errani, the last Italian woman to play for the Italian Open title, all rose to applaud Paolini and to share in the celebration.

Looking back, Paolini was the steadier player throughout the final. She placed 76 percent of her first serves in play, won 57 percent of her first-serve points, hit 12 winners to 20 unforced errors and converted five of seven break points. Paolini outpointed Gauff 72-56.

Gauff, who also was a finalist in Madrid earlier this month, applauded Paolini’s achievement in accepting her runner-up trophy. “Congrats, Jasmine on this incredible achievement. You ‘re an incredible person and player. It’s always tough playing you,” she said.

Paolini reciprocated congratulations to Coco in her remarks, saying: “Congrats for the amazing week Coco and last week also. You reached finals so you’re playing great. Keep it going to you and to your team.”

Later on, during her champion’s news conference, Paolini added: “It’s pure joy to have this trophy in my hands here in Rome at home. Really happy about it and grateful, as well.”

With Roland-Garros just a little over a week away, Gauff will move up to World No. 2 and Paolini to World No. 4 in the new PIF WTA Rankings on Monday. For now, Paolini can enjoy ruling as the new queen of Rome, lighting up the Eternal City with her smile.

Around Foro Italico

No. 1 seeds Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador and Mate Pavic of Croatia advanced to their fourth doubles final of the season – all at ATP Masters 1000 level – following their 7-6 (2), 6-1 semifinal over unseeded Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski of Great Britain in one hour and 25 minutes on Campo Centrale. The co-World No. 1s won 81 percent of their first-serve points, converted four of eight break points and outpointed the British pair 66-49.

In Sunday’s final, Arevalo and Pavic, who earlier this season won titles at Indian Wells and Miami and were finalists earlier this month in Madrid, will face Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul of France, who upset No. 2 seeds Harri Heliovaara of Finland and Henry Patten of Great Britain, 7-6 (5), 6-4, in one hour and 34 minutes on Campo Centrale. The French duo won 85 percent of their first-serve points, converted two of five break points and outpointed their opponents 70-62.

Sunday’s Rome order of play

By the numbers

Saturday’s women’s final between Jasmine Paolini and Coco Gauff was the first time an Italian and American were featured in the women’s singles final of the Italian Open since Serena Williams defeated Sara Errani in 2014.

“Quotable …”

“Definitely proud of the two results, but also disappointed. It’s a bittersweet feeling. Jasmine played great tennis today. Unfortunately I felt like I didn’t bring my best, which I knew I needed today. Overall, a lot to look forward to in Paris.”

– No. 3 seed Coco Gauff of the United States, from her post-match news conference Saturday, after losing to Jasmine Paolini in the Rome final.

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