Jasmine Paolini First Italian To Win Italian Open In Four Decades

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

Jasmine Paolini became the first home player in decades to win the women’s Italian Open.

The tennis player beat Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-2, to become the first italian player to win the match in 40 years.

The last Italian woman to win the open was Raffaella Reggi in 1985. The last local man to raise the trophy was Adriano Panatta in 1976.

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

The fifth-ranked Paolini was the runner-up at the French Open and Wimbledon and led Italy to the Billie Jean King Cup title last year. She will now move up to No. 4 in the rankings, which will improve her position in the draw for the French Open starting next weekend.