From Olympic gold to Paris glory: Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini win French Open women's doubles

Italian tennis stars Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini added another sparkling chapter to their partnership on Sunday, lifting the French Open women’s doubles trophy after a gutsy 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 victory over Kazakhstan’s Anna Danilina and Serbia’s Aleksandra Krunic.

The win marks their first Grand Slam title together, coming less than a year after their golden run at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, also played on the red clay of Roland Garros. In front of a buzzing Court Philippe Chatrier crowd, the second seeds cemented their status as one of the most formidable doubles duos in the game.

The Italians were quick to show their chemistry and composure in the opening set, trading breaks with their opponents before landing a crucial blow at 5-4 to seal it. Danilina and Krunic, however, weren’t going down without a fight. The unseeded pair, both seasoned doubles specialists, hit back convincingly in the second set, capitalising on a brief dip in the Italians’ rhythm.

However with the title on the line, Errani and Paolini clicked back into gear. They broke twice early in the deciding set, racing to a 5-0 lead as their tactical finesse and clay-court experience proved too much for their opponents. The match ended with Krunic netting a forehand, sealing a moment of redemption for the Italians, who were runners-up at Roland Garros just one year ago.

This title is especially sweet for Paolini, who has rapidly become one of Italy’s top tennis hopes. The 29-year-old had reached both the singles and doubles finals at last year’s French Open, showcasing her impressive versatility. Although she exited in the fourth round of singles this year, her doubles triumph with Errani more than made up for it.

Meanwhile for 38-year-old veteran Sara Errani, it was a week to remember. Not only did she hoist the women’s doubles trophy alongside Paolini, but she also triumphed in the mixed doubles earlier in the tournament with fellow Italian Andrea Vavassori, bringing her French Open title count to two in just seven days.

The victory is expected to elevate the duo even further in the doubles rankings, where they currently hold the sixth spot. With both Olympic and now Grand Slam gold to their names, they have cemented their place in the annals of Italian tennis history.

As Paolini and Errani lifted the trophy beneath the Parisian sun, the statement was unmistakable: their ascent from Olympic triumph to Grand Slam glory was no coincidence. Roland Garros has once more proven to be their stage of dreams.