The Foro Italico (Italian Forum) has lived up to its name this past week as Jannik Sinner and Jasmine Paolini have given home fans a local hero to cheer for in both singles finals at the Italian Open.

Jasmine Paolini became the first Italian woman in more than a decade to reach the final of her home Italian Open when she beat American Peyton Stearns 7-5 6-1 on Thursday. Paolini is the first Italian to advance to the final in Rome since her doubles partner Sara Errani lost to Serena Williams in 2014.

Jasmine Paolini - a winner in Dubai in 2024 - is the first Italian to reach multiple WTA-1000 finals, and the third-oldest player to advance to the Rome showpiece after Helga Masthoff (1971) and Li Na