Gauff Outlasts Zheng in Epic Duel as Paolini Makes History at Italian Open Final

Coco Gauff secured her spot in the Italian Open final after a grueling three-set battle against Zheng Qinwen. The match lasted over three and a half hours and featured significant momentum swings, with Gauff eventually winning 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (4). Despite letting a 5-3 lead slip in the first set, Gauff capitalized on Zheng’s errors to edge out the opening set and held her nerve in the final tiebreak. This marks Gauff’s second straight WTA 1000 final, following her recent runner-up finish in Madrid.

Jasmine Paolini Stages Stunning Comeback, First Italian Woman Finalist in Rome Tournament

Jasmine Paolini became the first Italian woman in over a decade to reach the Rome final, defeating American Peyton Stearns 7-5, 6-1. After a slow start and falling behind 4-0 in the first set, Paolini staged a remarkable comeback, saving set points and rallying to win four consecutive games to close out the set. She carried this momentum into the second set, dominating Stearns and securing a strong victory in front of the home crowd.

Paolini expressed deep joy and disbelief at reaching the final in her home tournament, calling it a “dream.” She acknowledged the crowd’s support as a crucial boost during her tough start, praising their energy for helping her mount the comeback. Paolini emphasized the importance of fighting through adversity and the shared nature of the victory with her fans.

Sinner Dominates Ruud; Faces Paul, Musetti Meets Alcaraz in Men’s Semifinals

On the men’s side, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner produced a commanding performance to defeat Madrid Open champion Casper Ruud 6-0, 6-1 in just over an hour. Sinner’s aggressive play, combining strong serving and returning, overwhelmed Ruud, who only managed to win one game until late in the second set. Sinner’s dominance was reflected in the statistics, including a 55-22 winners-to-errors ratio and a near-perfect first set.

Sinner will face American Tommy Paul in the semifinals, who defeated Hubert Hurkacz to become the fourth American in the Open Era to reach consecutive semifinals in Rome. The other men’s semifinal will see Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti play against Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, the third seed. These matchups set the stage for an exciting conclusion to the tournament, with home favorites and top-ranked players battling for the title.