TNT Sports
Jasmine Paolini downs Coco Gauff in straight sets to become Italian Open champion in Rome - ‘It doesn’t seem real to me’
By
Published 17/05/2025 at 19:38 GMT+1
React to this story
Jasmine Paolini will move up to world No. 4 on Monday after defeating American opponent Coco Gauff 6-4 6-2 on Saturday in the Italian Open final. The 29-year-old became the first-ever Italian to win the tournament since it moved to Rome, and is the first Italian to win the tournament since 1985, as she prepares for next month's French Open, live on TNT Sports.
Highlights: Sinner beats Paul to set up heavyweight Italian Open final against Alcaraz
Video credit: TNT Sports
Jasmine Paolini became the first Italian Open champion in four decades after beating Coco Gauff 6-4 6-2 on Saturday.
The straight-sets win for the home favourite came in one hour and 29 minutes in Rome on Campo Centrale.
The tournament has not had an Italian winner since Raffaella Reggi in 1985, when the competition took place in Taranto - meaning Paolini is the maiden Italian winner in the capital.
The win is Paolini’s second WTA 1000 title, having won the Dubai Open last year, and is her third WTA singles title in total, with a Slovenia Open win coming in 2021.
Victory for the Italian represents her first clay title ahead of June’s French Open, the season’s second Grand Slam, live in the UK on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Paolini is now due to move up to No. 4 in the women’s world rankings, pushing former No. 1 Iga Swiatek down the pecking order to No. 5 as her relatively disappointing season continues.
Paolini is now projected to return to her career-high ranking of world No. 4 on Monday, just in time for a likely top-4 placement in the Roland Garros seedings. Gauff, meanwhile, will still rise back to her career-high ranking of No. 2 on Monday.
"It doesn’t seem real to me," Paolini said after the win. "I came here as a kid to see this tournament, but winning it and holding up this trophy wasn’t even in my dreams."
"The crowd has been incredible," Paolini continued.
- Sinner ‘wants to eat everyone alive’ after reaching Italian Open semis - Henin
- 'Hurt' Swiatek in 'vicious circle' that could come to head at French Open - Henin
- 'A bit of fun' - Kyrgios set for French Open return after eight years
Referring to her semi-final doubles match, which she is yet to play alongside Sara Errani against Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens, she added: "It’s been two incredible weeks and it’s not finished yet."
Fellow Italian Jannik Sinner could help make it an Italian double on Sunday, when he takes on Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s final.
Watch and stream the 2025 French Open on TNT Sports and discovery+
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement