Jasmine Paolini’s incredible journey at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia continued on Friday when she became the first player in 11 years to reach both the singles and doubles finals. This remarkable achievement highlights her impressive skill and determination throughout the tournament.
Strong Performance in Doubles Semifinal
Paolini and her partner, defending champions Sara Errani, who are the No. 3 seeds, made a strong comeback after trailing 4-2 in the second set. They ultimately defeated the No. 3 seeds Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider with a score of 6-4, 6-4 in the first doubles semifinal. Remarkably, Paolini also advanced to the singles final the day before by beating Peyton Stearns. This accomplishment makes her the first player since Errani in 2014 to compete in both finals in Rome.
In the upcoming final, Paolini aims to follow in the footsteps of Errani, who faced tough losses in her two finals back in 2014 against Serena Williams in singles and alongside Roberta Vinci in doubles. On the other hand, Raffaella Reggi remains the only Italian woman to have won both singles and doubles titles in Rome, achieving this back in 1985. Since then, only Monica Seles has won both trophies in the tournament’s history, back in 1990.
Paolini is also striving to become just the second player to win both the singles and doubles titles at a WTA 1000 event since the format began in 2009, a feat previously accomplished by Vera Zvonareva. This goal adds an extra layer of excitement to her performance as she continues her journey in the tournament.
Over the past year, Errani and Paolini have developed an exciting rivalry with Andreeva and Shnaider, having faced them multiple times, including in the final of the Paris Olympic Games, where the Italian duo took home the gold medal. Currently, Errani and Paolini hold a 3-1 advantage in their head-to-head encounters, showcasing their strong teamwork and strategy on the court.
In the semifinal match, Paolini showcased her impressive groundstrokes, hitting powerful shots at crucial moments to keep their opponents on their toes. The Italians didn’t drop a serve in the first set, and Errani’s excellent volleys helped secure the final game. Though they broke Andreeva in the first game of the second set, the Miami champions quickly leveled the score. With Shnaider’s strong net play, they took a 4-2 lead and threatened to push the match into a tiebreak. However, Errani and Paolini fought back, winning the last four games of the match, with Paolini sealing their victory with a powerful forehand on their first match point.
As Paolini prepares for the finals, fans eagerly anticipate her next moves, hoping to witness history in the making at the prestigious Internazionali BNL d’Italia.