Paolini defeats Gauff to become first home Italian Open winner in 40 years

Jasmine Paolini got the party started at the Foro Italico. And now the stage is set for Jannik Sinner to cap it off.

Paolini made the crowd's fervent support stand up, beating Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-2 to become the first home player to win the Italian Open in 40 years on Saturday.

With the top-ranked Sinner set to face Carlos Alcaraz in the men's final on Sunday, Italian players could earn their first-ever sweep of the singles titles in Rome.

The last Italian woman to win the country's Open was Raffaella Reggi in 1985, while the last local man to raise the trophy was Adriano Panatta in 1976.

When Paolini hit a big serve down the middle on her second championship point and Gauff couldn't successfully respond, the 29-year-old celebrated with a big smile and raised her arms as she spun around in joy.

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

Before the awards ceremony, the crowd chanted "Ole, ole, ole, Jas-mine, Jas-mine," and Paolini responded by forming her hands into a heart shape.

"The crowd has been incredible," she said.

Paolini and partner Sara Errani also reached the women's doubles final, and will take on Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens for that trophy, also on Sunday.

"It's been two incredible weeks and it's not finished yet," Paolini said.

With the country's tennis boom in full force, Italian President Sergio Mattarella attended the women's final.

Numerous fans held aloft Italian flags and constantly shouted "Vai Jasmine" ("Go Jasmine").

World No. 5 Paolini was the runner-up at the French Open and Wimbledon and led Italy to the Billie Jean King Cup title last year. She and Errani also won gold in doubles at the Paris Olympics.

Paolini will move up to fourth in the world rankings on Monday, which will improve her position in the draw for the French Open that starts next weekend at Roland-Garros.