The Foro Italico in Rome buzzed with electric anticipation on May 15, 2025, as Jasmine Paolini, Italy’s tenacious world No. 5, staged a breathtaking comeback to secure her place in the Italian Open final, defeating American Peyton Stearns 7-5, 6-1. This triumph marks Paolini as the first Italian woman to reach the Rome final since her doubles partner Sara Errani in 2014, a historic milestone that has set the stage for a thrilling championship match against Coco Gauff. At 29, Paolini’s journey from a 4-1 deficit in the first set to a commanding victory showcases her resilience, fueled by the fervent support of the home crowd and her unyielding spirit, as she aims to become the first Italian champion since Raffaella Reggi in 1985.
Paolini’s path to the final has been a rollercoaster of grit and determination. Her tournament began with a straight-sets win over Lulu Sun, followed by a commanding victory against world No. 27 Ons Jabeur in the round of 32. In the round of 16, she dispatched Jelena Ostapenko 7-5, 6-2, leveraging her agility and powerful forehand to outmaneuver the former French Open champion. The quarterfinals tested her mettle against Russia’s Diana Shnaider, where Paolini trailed by a set and 4-0 before a timely rain delay allowed her to regroup. “It was a good thing that it rained for five minutes. I got some coaching from Sara,” she said, crediting Errani’s advice for sparking her 6-7(1), 6-4, 6-2 turnaround. Against Stearns, Paolini again faced an early 4-1 deficit, with the American holding two set points at 5-3. “At the beginning, I was feeling so slow,” Paolini admitted to reporters, noting Stearns’ aggressive play. Yet, a bold drop shot and a blazing forehand return winner shifted the momentum, allowing her to save both set points and win 10 of the last 11 games, sealing the match in 1 hour and 39 minutes.
The Rome crowd played a pivotal role, their chants of “Ole, Ole, Ole; Jas-mine, Jas-mine” reverberating through Centre Court. “You gave me a boost because today it was a bit of an uphill start and I struggled at the beginning, thank goodness you were there,” Paolini told the fans, emphasizing their role in her victory. “We won this match together.” Her ability to feed off their energy mirrors her breakout 2024 season, where she reached the French Open and Wimbledon finals, won Olympic doubles gold with Errani, and claimed the WTA 1000 Dubai title. This final, her second at the 1000 level, positions her to join an elite group, potentially matching Errani’s 2014 milestone if she and Errani also reach the doubles final against Mirra Andreeva and Shnaider.
Paolini’s opponent, Coco Gauff, earned her final berth in a grueling 3-hour, 32-minute semifinal against Qinwen Zheng, prevailing 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(4). Gauff, who leads their head-to-head 2-1 but lost to Paolini on clay in Stuttgart last month, praised Paolini’s tenacity. The matchup promises a clash of styles—Gauff’s athleticism against Paolini’s compact, spin-heavy game, honed under new coach Marc Lopez since April 2025. “I’m trying to take the positive things from last year,” Paolini said, reflecting on her 2024 consistency while keeping expectations grounded. “The experience makes me a better player.”
Paolini’s rise, from a junior trained at Mirafiume Tennis Club to a world No. 4 and Billie Jean King Cup champion, embodies Italy’s tennis renaissance, alongside Jannik Sinner’s men’s semifinal run. Her multicultural roots—Italian father, Polish-Ghanaian mother—add depth to her story, resonating with fans who mobbed her after her Olympic gold. “The attention meant I couldn’t go out!” she joked earlier this year. As she prepares for Saturday’s final, Paolini carries the hopes of a nation, aiming to etch her name in history. Whether she lifts the trophy or not, her Rome run—marked by heart, hustle, and home-crowd heroics—has already made her a national treasure.
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