Paolini Beats Gauff to Become 1st Home Player in 40 Years to Win Italian Open
Jasmine Paolini took advantage of the crowd’s support and beat Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-2 to become the first home player to win the Italian Open in 40 years on Saturday.
With top-ranked Jannik Sinner to play Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s final on Sunday, Italy could earn its first sweep of the Rome singles titles, The Associated Press reported.
The last Italian woman to win the open was Raffaella Reggi in 1985 in Taranto. The last local man to raise the trophy was Adriano Panatta in 1976.
Paolini and partner Sara Errani are also in the women’s doubles final and will play Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens for that trophy on Sunday.
With the country’s tennis boom in full force, Italy President Sergio Mattarella attended the woman’s final at the Foro Italico.
Numerous fans held aloft Italian flags and they constantly shouted “Vai Jasmine” (“Go Jasmine”).
