Jasmine Paolini: Home favourite Jasmine Paolini made history at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, ensuring that for the first time in four decades, the Italian International has an Italian champion in women's singles here on Saturday. Paolini thrilled the partisan crowd in Rome as the No. 6 seed Paolini defeated No. 4 seed Coco Gauff of the United States 6-4, 6-2 in the final at Campo Centrale to claim a historic title.
Paolini is the first woman to prevail at her country's biggest event since Raffaella Reggi in 1985, 40 years ago. Also, Reggi won the title when the event was held in Taranto, meaning Paolini was the first woman to win the Internazionali BNL d'Italia title in her national capital of Rome during the Open Era (since 1968). She thus became the third Italian woman in the Open Era to reach the Rome final after coming from 4-1 down in the first set, saving two set points, to defeat Peyton Stearns 7-5, 6-1 in 1 hour and 39 minutes.
In the summit clash between two Top-5 players, Paolini needed just 1 hour and 29 minutes to best Gauff and pick up her second career WTA 1000 title, following her triumph in Dubai in 2024. This is Paolini's third WTA singles title overall -- and her first on clay.
