Photo credit: Dan Istitene/Getty
Italian fans bounced up and down in celebratory joy turning Court Centrale into a bounce house.
Jazz rocked Rome with a rousing red clay title run.
A spirited Jasmine Paolini broke to open both sets, crushing Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-2 becoming the second Italian woman to win Rome.
It was a near-flawless performance from the 29-year-old Paolini, the first Italian woman to raise the Rome crown since Raffaella Reggi in 1985. Scoring her second straight clay-court win over Gauff in the last two months, Paolini is the oldest woman to win a maiden Rome crown in the Open Era.
Playing with poise, purpose and passion, Paolini was on fire from the outset seizing double-break leads in both sets and never trailing in a one hour, 29-minute master class of championship tennis.
The 2024 Roland Garros and Wimbledon finalist dropped just one set in six tournament wins, including knocking off a pair of major champions in 2017 French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko and 2023 US Open champion Gauff, along the way.
Sun broke through the drizzly day when Paolini served out her biggest championship snapping a 40-year Italian title drought in the Eternal City with the perpetual smile that never seems to leave her face.
The Paolini party is not over yet.Paolini, who celebrated by running to her box to high-five her parents and doubles partner Sara Errani before twirling around the terre battue in victory, is the first Italian woman since Errani in 2014 to reach both Rome singles and doubles final. She’ll play for the double championship sweep tomorrow.
Embed from Getty ImagesAcross the net, Gauff, who carried an imposing 9-2 finals record into today’s title match looked listless after fighting off Olympic singles gold-medal champion Zheng Qinwen in an epic three hour, 32-minute semifinal.
Today, Gauff’s legs were lacking and her serve was missing when she needed it most. Gauff served 53 percent, slapped seven double faults and repeatedly flat-lined drives into the net committing an unsightly 55 unforced errors in 18 games. You can’t litter than many errors in two sets against a Top 10 opponent and expect to win a WTA 1000 championship.
“I’ve had a great time here in Rome. I lost in the semis twice so I’m happy to make it to the final,” Gauff told Rome fans during the trophy presentation. “Congratulations Jasmine on this incredible achievement. You’re an incredible person and player.
“It’s always tough playing you. Good luck in the doubles final tomorrow—I hope you guys can take it home.”
Paolini played with more depth and desire, collecting her third career singles title and making history as the first Italian woman to win multiple WTA 1000 championships.
This impressive title run propels Paolini back up to her career-high of No. 4—that puts the 2024 Roland Garros runner-up ahead of reigning Roland Garros champion Iga Swiatek heading into the French Open, which starts on May 25th.