In a captivating final at the 2025 Italian Open, Coco Gauff faced a formidable challenge from hometown hero Jasmine Paolini, who clinched a historic 6-4, 6-2 victory to become the first Italian woman in 40 years to claim the Rome singles title. The Foro Italico erupted in celebration as Paolini, cheered on by a passionate crowd and dignitaries like Italian President Sergio Mattarella, etched her name into tennis history. Despite the sting of defeat, Gauff displayed remarkable sportsmanship, showering praise on her opponent and reflecting on her own journey with humility and optimism as she looks toward Roland Garros.
Paolini’s triumph marked a monumental moment for Italian tennis. The 29-year-old, who had watched the tournament as a wide-eyed child, described the victory as surreal. “It doesn’t seem real to me,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion. “I came here as a kid to see this tournament, but winning it and holding up this trophy wasn’t even in my dreams.” Her performance was a masterclass in precision and aggression, with only 20 unforced errors compared to Gauff’s 55, and a flawless serving display that included zero double faults. Paolini’s powerful groundstrokes and tactical versatility overwhelmed Gauff, who admitted, “Maybe I could have served better and put more balls in the court. I definitely could and can. But she played to win today, and she deserved to win.”
The match, which lasted just 89 minutes, saw Paolini seize control after a shaky start. Both players struggled to hold serve in the opening three games, but Paolini found her rhythm, taking a 3-1 lead and closing out the first set with a brilliant forehand. The second set was even more one-sided, as Gauff’s errors mounted, and Paolini’s confidence soared, fueled by the crowd’s chants of “Ole, ole, ole, Jas-mine, Jas-mine.” Gauff, who saved one match point, couldn’t counter Paolini’s decisive serve down the T, which sealed the victory. “Today was my best match of the week,” Paolini declared, crediting her recent coaching change to Marc Lopez and the constant presence of doubles partner Sara Errani, who acts as an unofficial mentor.
Gauff, despite the loss, remained gracious, addressing Paolini directly during the trophy ceremony. “Congrats, Jasmine, on this incredible achievement,” she said. “You’re an incredible person and player. It’s always tough playing you. Good luck in the doubles final. I hope you guys can take it home.” Her words resonated with the crowd, who had supported her throughout the tournament, and underscored the mutual respect between the two players. Gauff also thanked the volunteers, staff, and fans, noting, “You were supporting me for the majority of the week, so I really appreciate it.” Her humility shone through as she acknowledged her second consecutive WTA 1000 final appearance, having lost to Aryna Sabalenka in Madrid two weeks earlier.
The defeat was bittersweet for Gauff, who will rise to a career-high world No. 2 ranking on Monday. Her clay-court season has been impressive, with an 11-2 record, including wins over Mirra Andreeva and Qinwen Zheng in Rome. Yet, the 21-year-old expressed a mix of pride and disappointment. “I’m proud of the two results, but also disappointed,” she admitted. “Jasmine played great tennis today. Unfortunately, I felt like I didn’t bring my best, which I knew I needed today.” Looking ahead to the French Open, where she reached the final in 2022, Gauff remains optimistic. “Hopefully I can get to the final in Roland Garros, and maybe the ‘third time is a charm’ thing is a real thing,” she said with a smile, acknowledging the confidence gained from her recent performances despite not playing her best tennis.
Paolini’s victory, which propels her to world No. 4 and secures a top-four seeding at Roland Garros, is just the beginning of her Rome campaign. She and Errani will contest the doubles final against Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens, aiming to become the first player to sweep both titles at a WTA 1000 event since Vera Zvonareva in 2009. Meanwhile, Italy’s tennis renaissance continues, with Jannik Sinner facing Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s final, raising hopes of a historic singles sweep. For Gauff, the road to Paris is paved with lessons and determination, her gracious response in Rome a testament to her character and a promise of greater battles to come.
Leave a Reply