In a gripping finale at the 2025 Italian Open, Coco Gauff fell short of clinching her first title of the season, succumbing to a dominant Jasmine Paolini in a 6-4, 6-2 defeat that lasted just 89 minutes. The Foro Italico’s Campo Centrale was electric, with a partisan Italian crowd, including President Sergio Mattarella, roaring Paolini to a historic victory—the first by an Italian woman at the tournament since Raffaella Reggi in 1985. For Gauff, the loss was a “bittersweet” moment, as she expressed pride in her clay-court resurgence while grappling with a performance that fell below her expectations.
The 21-year-old American, ranked No. 3, entered the final on the heels of a grueling 3-hour-32-minute semi-final win over Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng, the longest women’s match of 2025. That marathon, marked by 19 service breaks and 82 unforced errors, showcased Gauff’s resilience but left her physically drained. Facing Paolini, a home favorite buoyed by a raucous crowd, Gauff struggled to find her rhythm. “Jasmine played great tennis today,” Gauff admitted in her post-match press conference. “Unfortunately, I felt like I didn’t bring my best, which I knew I needed today.” Her serve, plagued by seven double faults and a 63% first-serve point win rate, faltered against Paolini’s aggressive returns and pinpoint groundstrokes.
Paolini, 29, was relentless, leveraging her 9-2 clay-court record in 2025 and a recent win over Gauff in Stuttgart to level their head-to-head at 2-2. The Italian’s versatility—mixing powerful forehands, deft drop shots, and net approaches—disrupted Gauff’s defensive game. “She forced me to play that way,” Gauff said, acknowledging Paolini’s tactical brilliance. “Maybe I could have served better and put more balls in the court, could play better. I definitely could and can. But she played to win today and she deserved to win.” The first set saw three early breaks, with Paolini seizing a 3-1 lead and holding firm despite Gauff’s efforts to claw back. In the second, Paolini surged to a 3-0 advantage, and though Gauff saved one match point, a booming serve down the T sealed Paolini’s triumph.
Despite the defeat, Gauff’s run in Rome was a testament to her clay-court prowess. She dispatched notable opponents, including Emma Raducanu in a 6-1, 6-2 rout and Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-finals, en route to her second consecutive WTA 1000 final after Madrid. Her 11-2 clay record this season, with losses only to elite players Paolini and Aryna Sabalenka, has propelled her to a career-high No. 2 ranking. “Definitely proud of the two results, but also disappointed,” Gauff reflected. “Overall a lot to look forward to in Paris. I mean, Jasmine played I think great tennis today.”
Looking ahead to Roland Garros, where she was a finalist 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 joked, tempering her ambition with pragmatism. “That’s looking so far ahead. Overall I lost to two quality opponents, Aryna in Madrid and Jasmine here. So yeah, I think I have a lot to improve, a lot that I can work on.” Her ability to reach finals despite not playing her best tennis fuels her confidence. “I made the final with those errors. Made the final maybe not playing my best tennis,” she said. “It just gives me confidence if I can find that good form heading into Roland Garros, I can do well there.”
Paolini’s victory, meanwhile, was a landmark for Italian tennis. The world No. 5, who will rise to No. 4, became only the fourth Italian woman to win the Rome title since 1930. “It doesn’t seem real. It’s incredible to have the trophy in my hands,” Paolini said, her voice thick with emotion. “I came here as a kid to watch this tournament so to lift the trophy is beyond what I ever dreamed of.” Her week isn’t over—she and Sara Errani will contest the doubles final, aiming to emulate Monica Seles’ 1990 Rome singles-doubles sweep.
For Gauff, the Italian Open was a microcosm of her 2025 season: flashes of brilliance tempered by moments of inconsistency. Yet, her youth—she’s the third-youngest to reach four WTA 1000 finals—combined with her tenacity, signals a bright future. As she heads to Paris, Gauff carries the lessons of Rome: a reminder to sharpen her serve, harness her speed, and embrace the pressure of big stages. The tennis world awaits her next move, confident that her first clay-court title since Parma 2021 is within reach.
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