Jasmine Paolini, aged 29 and the world number five and pupil of Spaniard Marc López, made Italian tennis history when she defeated American Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-2 to become the first Italian woman to win the WTA 1000 Rome tournament in 40 years.It was the first time in 40 years that Italy had an Italian champion since Raffaella Reggi won the 1985 Taranto Open in Apulia. Even the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, wanted to be present on the center court of the Foro Italico to see the first Italian finalist in 11 years. Paolini did not start as a favorite, with the odds going to names such as Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka, Poland’s Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff. But the doubles champion at the Paris 2024 Olympics and finalist at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year has brought endless joy to a crowd that has always believed in her and led her to glory. EFE tfc/dgp
