Jasmine Paolini Faces Coco Gauff in Rome Tennis Final

Rome, Italy – The women’s singles final of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia will feature No. 4 seed Coco Gauff against No. 6 seed Jasmine Paolini on Saturday, May 17, at 5 p.m. local time (11 a.m. ET) at the Foro Italico.

Both players have demonstrated exceptional performances to reach this stage. Gauff, a former Roland Garros runner-up, entered the final after a challenging semifinal against Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen. The match lasted three and a half hours, ultimately culminating in a crucial tiebreak win.

Paolini, competing on her home turf, has become the crowd favorite. The 29-year-old has shown impressive form, dropping only one set throughout the tournament and defeating several seeded opponents. This will be her first attempt to win a title on clay after previously capturing a WTA 1000 title in Dubai.

With a 51% break point conversion rate, Paolini is expected to pose a significant challenge to Gauff, who has struggled with double faults in recent matches. Despite Gauff’s higher ranking and prior head-to-head advantage of 2-1, Paolini’s recent victory against the American in Stuttgart indicates potential for an upset.

Gauff acknowledged the support Paolini will receive from the crowd and emphasized the importance of delivering a high-level performance. “She’s a tough opponent, especially here,” Gauff said, adding that she hopes to improve her game in the final.

Paolini reflected on the journey leading to the final, crediting her experience over the previous season for her improved mindset. “It’s amazing to be in the final,” she stated. The match represents a significant moment for Italian tennis, marking the first time in over a decade an Italian woman has reached this final.

A win for Paolini would make her the first Italian woman to capture the singles title in Rome since 1985. Gauff, on the other hand, aims to break her clay court title drought and solidify her position among the top players in the sport.

The match promises to be exciting, with both players eager to seize the prestigious title and the corresponding 1,000 ranking points and €877,390 cash prize.