As the red clay of Rome’s Foro Italico glows under the Italian sun, Coco Gauff stands at the precipice of history, chasing a title that has eluded American women for nearly a decade. The 21-year-old world number three has stormed into the final of the 2025 Italian Open, a WTA 1000 event, with a thrilling 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(4) victory over China’s Zheng Qinwen in a semifinal marathon that spanned three and a half hours. Gauff’s relentless grit and athletic prowess have positioned her as the frontrunner to become the first American woman to claim the Rome title since Serena Williams in 2016, ending a nine-year drought for the United States on this prestigious clay court stage.
Gauff’s journey to the final has been a masterclass in resilience. After a bye into the second round, she dispatched Canadian qualifier Victoria Mboko and Poland’s Magda Linette with precision, avenging a prior loss to Linette in Miami. Her fourth-round clash against Britain’s Emma Raducanu was a statement, as Gauff cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 victory in just 79 minutes. “Emma is a tough opponent no matter what surface, and always tough to play—so I’m happy with how I played,” Gauff said, reflecting on her dominant performance. The quarterfinals saw her outlast Russia’s Mirra Andreeva 6-4, 7-6(5), securing her third Rome quarterfinal appearance and a 4-0 head-to-head record against the young Russian. The semifinal against Zheng, a rematch of their epic 2024 WTA Finals final, tested Gauff’s mettle. Trailing 3-5 in the third set, she staged a remarkable comeback, showcasing what she called “toughness” in a match marked by 19 service breaks and wild momentum swings.
The significance of Gauff’s run cannot be overstated. No American woman has won the Italian Open since Williams’ triumph, and Gauff, now guaranteed to rise to world number two after Iga Swiatek’s shock second-round exit, is the youngest player to reach four WTA 1000 clay quarterfinals since the format’s inception in 2009. “It still feels so slow compared to Madrid, but I’m getting used to it with each match,” Gauff noted, highlighting her adaptation to Rome’s heavier clay. Her 10-1 record on the surface this season, with her only loss coming to Aryna Sabalenka in the Madrid Open final, underscores her growing mastery. This final appearance marks her as the first player to reach both the Madrid and Rome finals in the same season since Simona Halep in 2017.
Gauff’s opponent in the final, Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, presents a formidable challenge. The sixth seed, buoyed by a home crowd, defeated Jelena Ostapenko 7-5, 6-2 to reach her first Rome final. Paolini holds a 2-1 head-to-head edge, with her most recent victory coming in Stuttgart earlier this year. Yet, Gauff’s confidence is palpable. “I really was the one dictating the match for the most part,” she said of her Raducanu win, a mindset she’ll carry into the championship match. The stakes are high: a victory would mark Gauff’s 10th career singles title and her second WTA 1000 crown, following her 2023 Cincinnati triumph.
Beyond the trophy, Gauff’s run carries cultural weight. As the first American woman to reach the Rome final since Venus Williams in 2006, she is rewriting narratives in a sport where American women have struggled on clay. Her 2024 French Open doubles title with Katerina Siniakova and 2023 US Open singles crown highlight her versatility, but a Rome victory would cement her as a clay-court force. “I’m really optimistic,” Gauff said earlier this season, eyeing her first French Open singles title, a goal that looms larger with her Rome performance. Her 28th career top-10 win against Zheng and a 23-7 record in 2025 reflect a player peaking at the right moment.
The Rome final is more than a match—it’s a chance for Gauff to end a drought and inspire a new generation. With the French Open starting May 25, her clay-court form positions her as a favorite alongside Sabalenka and Swiatek. As she steps onto the court against Paolini, Gauff carries the hopes of American tennis fans, determined to etch her name alongside legends like Williams. In a city steeped in history, Coco Gauff is poised to make her own.
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