The Internazionali BNL d’Italia culminates in a final between Italy’s Jasmine Paolini and America’s Coco Gauff. Both players have showcased exceptional skill and determination throughout the tournament, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion.
Paolini’s path to the final
Jasmine Paolini has captivated the home crowd with her remarkable run, becoming the first Italian woman in 11 years to reach the Rome final . Her journey included a notable comeback against Peyton Stearns in the semifinals, where she saved two set points before securing a 7–5, 6–1 victory . Paolini’s resilience and tactical prowess have been evident, particularly in her ability to turn matches around under pressure.
Gauff’s road to the final
Coco Gauff has demonstrated tenacity and endurance, highlighted by her semifinal win over Qinwen Zheng in a marathon match lasting 3 hours and 32 minutes—the longest on the WTA Tour this year . Gauff’s path to the final also included victories over Mirra Andreeva and Emma Raducanu, showcasing her consistency on clay. This marks Gauff’s second consecutive WTA 1000 final, following her runner-up finish in Madrid.
Head-to-head and statistics
In their previous encounters, Gauff leads Paolini 2–1. However, Paolini claimed victory in their most recent match at the Stuttgart quarterfinals, winning 6–4, 6–3 . Statistically, Paolini boasts a higher first-serve percentage (74.3%) compared to Gauff’s 61.6%, while Gauff has a slight edge in return points won (45.0% to Paolini’s 41.1%).
Final showdown
The final is scheduled for Saturday at 5 p.m. local time on Campo Centrale. With Paolini aiming to become the first Italian woman to win the Rome title since 1985 and Gauff seeking her first WTA 1000 title on clay, the match promises to be a captivating contest between two in-form players.