In the heart of Rome, where the clay courts of the Foro Italico hosted a historic 2025 Italian Open, Coco Gauff fell short in her quest for a maiden title, succumbing to a spirited Jasmine Paolini in a straight-sets final, 6-4, 6-2. The defeat, Gauff’s second consecutive WTA 1000 final loss following a Madrid Open runner-up finish to Aryna Sabalenka, prompted former British tennis star Tim Henman to share critical advice for the American’s team. Speaking on a Sky Sports broadcast, Henman emphasized the need for perspective and tactical adjustments, urging Gauff’s camp to help her harness her athletic prowess and regain her edge before the French Open, set to begin on May 25.
Gauff, the 21-year-old World No. 3, entered the final as a slight favorite, buoyed by a 10-1 clay-court record over the past month and a grueling 3½-hour semifinal victory over Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen. Yet, Paolini, fueled by a raucous home crowd and her own aggressive evolution, outclassed Gauff in 89 minutes. The Italian, who became the first woman from her country to win the Rome title since Raffaella Reggi in 1985, capitalized on Gauff’s 55 unforced errors and seven double faults, compared to her own pristine 20 unforced errors and zero double faults. “I think when she is able to let the dust settle, she will be able to sit down and analyse with her team, she will realise she can play better,” Henman advised, highlighting the importance of reflection after such a lopsided loss.
Henman, a former Wimbledon semifinalist, pinpointed Gauff’s serve and forehand as areas needing refinement. “Her serve and her forehand, if she can get that balance between control and aggression,” he said, suggesting that fine-tuning these shots could elevate her game. Despite the defeat, Henman remained optimistic about Gauff’s prospects, noting her back-to-back WTA 1000 finals as a sign of her growing stature. “She has been in two big finals, so you would like to think she goes to Paris, has a couple of days off physically to rest and repair, and then you would like to think she has a great shot at Roland Garros,” he added. Gauff’s 80% win rate at the French Open, where she reached the 2022 final and has made four quarterfinals, underscores her clay-court pedigree.
The final exposed Gauff’s struggles against Paolini’s transformed style. “I played her a long time ago in Adelaide,” Gauff recalled, referencing a 2021 win. “I remember her playing a little bit more of a passive game style. Now she’s more aggressive.” Paolini’s powerful groundstrokes and net play, honed under new coach Marc Lopez, disrupted Gauff’s rhythm, a dynamic also evident in Paolini’s April victory over Gauff in Stuttgart. “She is capable of playing top-two, No. 1-in-the-world tennis,” Gauff acknowledged, praising her opponent’s ascent to World No. 4 and a top-four French Open seeding.
Gauff’s graciousness shone through despite the sting of defeat. “Congratulations, Jasmine, on the incredible achievement,” she said post-match. “I just wanted to say you were an incredible person and player.” Her resilience was evident as she reflected on her clay season, which included a standout 6-1, 6-1 win over Iga Swiatek in Madrid. “Hopefully I can get to the final in Roland Garros and maybe the ‘third time is a charm’ thing is a real thing,” she joked, maintaining optimism despite losses to elite players like Paolini and Sabalenka.
As Gauff prepares for Paris, Henman’s call for rest and analysis resonates. Her athleticism, deemed the best in women’s tennis by Henman, and her recent rise to World No. 2 position her as a Roland Garros contender. With Paolini’s crowd-fueled triumph behind her, Gauff’s team faces the task of channeling her disappointment into motivation, ensuring she steps onto Court Philippe Chatrier ready to reclaim her clay-court dominance.
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