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.

With Jasmine Paolini’s victory in Rome, it remains difficult to choose a WTA favorite this year for Roland Garros.

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,