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

When the sun rose Saturday morning, Italy hadn’t had an Italian Open champion in 40 years. By nightfall, it had one. In 24 hours, it might have two. Jasmine Paolini, an irrepressible 29-year-old on a run for more than a year now,

Jasmine Paolini became the first Italian woman to win the Italian Open in 40 years when she beat American world number three Coco Gauff 6-4 6-2 in the final on Saturday. It was Paolini's biggest claycourt title and her second 1000-level crown,