Paolini masterpiece: beats Stearns and flies to final in Rome

Jasmine Paolini won against Peyton Stearns and reached the final of the Internazionali d’Italia for the first time in her career with a net score of 7-5,6-1. Under the skies of Rome, in front of a packed and celebrating central court, the Tuscan tennis player conquers with heart and talent the access to the final, becoming the first Italian to do so since her friend and doubles partner, namely Sara Errani in 2015.

In the first set several difficulties for the Italian tennis player, but as the games and minutes passed the dream became reality. After going down 1-4 in the first partial, Jasmine was able to get back up, canceling two set points and stringing a series of four consecutive games that handed her the first set. It was a comeback of character, the result of the tenacity she has had in this tournament since the first game.

In the second set, the world number 5 and Italian number 1 took the lead. Paolini raised the level of her tennis sharply. She was able to find depth, angles and impressive continuity with her forehand, which had created some headaches for her at the beginning of the match. Two breaks in the first five games definitively knocked out Stearns, who was unable to react to the Italian’s intensity. The 6-1 final is a snapshot of a now mature technical and mental superiority.

Now the last act is one step away. In the final Jasmine Paolini will face one between Coco Gauff and Qinwen Zheng, with the knowledge that she can play for the second 1000 title in her career. A possible triumph at the Internazionali d’Italia would even allow Jasmine to overtake Iga Swiatek in the rankings and become the new number 4 in the Wta ranking. And meanwhile, in Rome, tennis Italy is reignited in Paolini’s name.