The Foro Italico erupted in celebration as Italian tennis stars Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani clinched the women’s doubles title at the 2025 Internazionali BNL d’Italia, defeating Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens in a gripping 6-4, 7-5 final.
This victory marks their second consecutive doubles triumph in Rome, making them the first women’s duo in the Open Era to achieve back-to-back titles at this prestigious WTA 1000 event—a feat last accomplished in women’s doubles by Ashleigh Barty in 2018 and 2019.
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions for the Italian pair, who found themselves trailing 4-0 in both sets. However, fueled by the electric support of the home crowd at Campo Centrale, Paolini and Errani mounted a stunning comeback each time. Their resilience was on full display as they methodically clawed their way back into contention, winning six consecutive games in the first set to steal the lead. The second set followed a similar script, with the Italians battling back from 4-0 to 4-4. Despite Kudermetova and Mertens earning a set point at 5-4, Paolini sealed the match with a blistering forehand return winner on the first championship point, sparking wild celebrations.
“It was an incredible atmosphere,” said Errani, a former WTA Doubles World No. 1 who now boasts three Rome doubles titles. “The stadium was full of people, so it was so nice. It was a tough match—4-0 down in both sets, not easy. They played so strongly, but we kept fighting.” The match, which lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes, showcased the Italians’ exceptional depth of shot and mastery on pressure points, particularly through Errani’s winners at the net.
For Paolini, this victory capped a historic weekend in Rome. Just a day earlier, the 29-year-old had become the first Italian woman in 40 years to win the singles title at the Italian Open, defeating Coco Gauff in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2. By adding the doubles crown alongside Errani, Paolini became the first player to sweep both the singles and doubles titles at a WTA 1000 event since Vera Zvonareva in 2009 at Indian Wells. She also joins Monica Seles (1990) as one of the few women to achieve this rare double in Rome. “It’s been two amazing weeks, incredible,” Paolini said, beaming. “I don’t know what to say. It’s just perfect, you know?”
This dual triumph further solidifies Paolini’s meteoric rise in the tennis world. The fifth-ranked player, who will climb to No. 4 in the WTA rankings on Monday, has been a revelation over the past year, reaching the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon in 2024, leading Italy to the Billie Jean King Cup title, and winning Olympic gold in doubles with Errani at the Paris Games. Her singles victory in Rome—the first by an Italian woman since Raffaella Reggi in 1985—drew praise from across the tennis community, with Italian President Sergio Mattarella among the spectators cheering her on.
The partnership between Paolini and Errani has proven to be a formidable force on the court, blending Errani’s veteran experience with Paolini’s dynamic energy.
As Paolini and Errani lifted the trophy, the significance of their achievement was not lost on the tennis world. They have etched their names into the history books, not just as champions but as symbols of perseverance, teamwork, and national pride.
With the French Open on the horizon, this dynamic duo will undoubtedly carry their momentum forward, aiming to add more chapters to their remarkable story.
