Late bloomer Paolini is the first Italian woman to win the Rome event since Raffaella Reggi in 1985 after overcoming former US Open champion Gauff.
Paolini delighted the packed centre court at the Foro Italico by winning the first of a potential three titles for local players at this year’s event in the Italian capital.
The 29-year-old is the oldest woman to win her first Rome title during the Open Era, while Gauff, eight years Paolini’s junior, missed out on becoming the youngest to take the crown since Serena Williams back in 2002.
Just as in her battling semi-final win over Zheng Qinwen, Gauff made 55 unforced errors to go with seven double faults on serve, making Paolini’s life unnecessarily easy.
Paolini could yet win both the singles and women’s doubles tournaments, with the world number five and Sara Errani taking on Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens in the final on Sunday.
Monica Seles was the last women to win the singles and doubles tournaments in Rome in 1990, while the only player to do so in a 1000 series tournament was Vera Zvonareva at Indian Wells in 2009.
Paolini’s compatriot Jannik Sinner will contend a blockbuster men’s singles final against rival Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday. (AFP)
