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Jasmine Paolini produced a scintillating display as she blew away Coco Gauff in straight sets to end a 40-year wait for a home winner of the women’s singles at the Italian Open.<\/b><\/p>\n
Roared on by a partisan crowd at the Foro Italico in Rome, including Italian president Sergio Mattarella, Paolini triumphed 6-4 6-2 against Gauff of the United States.<\/p>\n
Paolini, who was a surprise finalist at the French Open and Wimbledon last year, wrapped up victory on the clay in one hour and 29 minutes.<\/p>\n
The 29-year-old was the first Italian woman to win the tournament since Raffaella Reggi in 1985 and only the fourth overall since its inception in 1930.<\/p>\n
Neither player was able to hold serve in the opening three games before Paolini’s nerves eventually settled as she took a 3-1 lead.<\/p>\n
That was the point at which Paolini upped the ante as she closed out the set in emphatic fashion.<\/p>\n
Paolini raced into a 3-0 lead in the second set with two early breaks before Gauff claimed a break back and then managed to hold her serve.<\/p>\n
However, Gauff was unable to wrestle momentum back her way as Paolini swaggered through the remainder of the set.<\/p>\n
Guaff saved one match point but at 40-30 Paolini, who was born in Bagni di Lucca in Tuscany, sealed victory with an unstoppable serve right down the middle of the court.<\/p>\n
Paolini’s victory will ensure she moves up a place to fourth in the world rankings on Monday and obtain a top-four seeding for the French Open, which begins next weekend.<\/p>\n
She could yet win both the singles and women’s doubles tournaments, as she and partner Sara Errani take on Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens in Sunday’s final.<\/p>\n
Monica Seles was the last woman to win the singles and doubles tournaments in Rome in 1990, while the only player to do so in a WTA 1000 series tournament was Vera Zvonareva at Indian Wells in 2009.<\/p>\n
Paolini’s compatriot Jannik Sinner will contend a blockbuster men’s singles final against rival Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n