After the title at the Rome Open: Jasmine Paolini and the 5 greatest italian women on clay

Clay courts reward patience, spin and tactical brilliance, features displayed by the new Rome Open champion, Jasmine Paolini, on her way to her third WTA 1000 title. Paolini defeated world No.3 Coco Gauff and became the first Italian woman to claim the title at the Foro Italico in 40 years. Her triumph follows a proud tradition of excellence on clay. From Grand Slam champions to consistent tour warriors, these five women helped shape Italy's legacy on the red dirt.

Fleet-footed, fearless and fiercely competitive, Schiavone's topspin heavy forehand was tailor-made for clay. Her historic victory at the 2010 French Open, where she overcame Justine Henin and Samantha Stosur to become the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title. She added semi-final finishes at Roland Garros 2008 and 2011, embodying the gritty resilience of Italian clay-court tennis.

Paolini's head coach, Sara Errani, displayed a clever and relentless style of play: great backhands, pinpoint drop shots and unmatched endurance. Finalist at the 2012 edition of the French Open, and semi-finalist in both 2013 and 2014, she was near-permanent fixture in the latter stages of clay events across half a decade.

A force on the 1980s clay circuit, Cecchini claimed seven WTA singles titles—five of them on clay—between 1984 and 1991. With a crafty slice backhand and smart all-court tactics, she reached the French Open quarter-finals in 1985 and 1988, consistently holding her own against the top clay specialists of her era.

Reggi's elegant one-handed backhand and sharp court awareness led her to five WTA titles -four of them on clay- in the late 1980s. She reached the Roland Garros quarter finals in 1988, topping higher-seeded players with her calm, methodical approach to point construction. She was the last Italian to win at the Foro Italico -prior to Paolini's brand new title.

A steady baseliner with plenty of topspin, Farina Elia was another fierce competitor on clay in the late 90s. She won three WTA titles on the surface and advanced to the fourth round twice, in 1995 and 1996. Her poise led her to reach the worlds top 20.

Paolini has carved her name into Italian tennis history, and with the new edition of the French Open on her way, she might just end up being the very best clay-court player of Italy's history.