Jasmine Paolini beats Coco Gauff in Rome final, reaches milestone

Jasmine Paolini made history in Rome on Saturday, becoming the first Italian in 40 years to win the women's singles event in her nation's signature tournament as she topped Coco Gauff in the final of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia.

Paolini, the sixth seed, needed just one hour, 29 minutes to defeat the fourth-seeded Gauff 6-4, 6-2 in front of an enthusiastic home crowd. No Italian woman had won since Raffaella Reggi achieved the feat in 1985.

For Paolini, this was her third WTA singles and first on clay. Gauff and Paolini are now tied 2-2 in their series, with the American winning twice on hardcourts and the Italian prevailing twice on clay.

"It doesn't seem real to me," Paolini said. "I came here as a kid to see this tournament but winning it and holding up this trophy wasn't even in my dreams."

Gauff's continuing serving woes led, in part, to her defeat. Just 53 percent of her first serves were in, and she had seven double faults compared to zero for Paolini, who converted five of seven break chances.

More opportunities for glory await Paolini and Italy.

Paolini and partner Sara Errani will play for the women's doubles title on Sunday, meeting Veronika Kudermetova of Russia and Belgium's Elise Mertens for that trophy on Sunday. If they are successful, Paolini will become the first player to sweep both events at a WTA 1000 events since Russian Vera Zvonareva did it at Indian Wells in 2009.

"It's been two incredible weeks and it's not finished yet," Paolini said.

Though her tournament is over, Gauff also said she enjoyed her stay in Italy.

"I have had a great time here in Rome. I have lost in the semis twice so I was happy to make it to the final," she said.

And she had a message for Paolini:

"It's always tough playing you. Good luck [Sunday] in the doubles final, I hope you guys can take it home."

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy also will be playing Sunday in the men's finals against third-seeded Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in search of a win in his first event since his 90-day doping suspension expired.

With a victory, Sinner also would earn a place in Italy tennis history. He would become the first Italian man to win since Adriano Panatta in 1976 -- 49 years ago. That year, Panatta defeated Guillermo Vilas of Argentina, the top seed.

--Field Level Media