Full circle moment for Jasmine Paolini: From watching Rome Open with her father as a kid to sealing historic title

Jasmine Paolini became the first of what could be two home Italian winners this weekend at the Rome Open. Tomorrow could be the king of men's tennis, Jannik Sinner who faces his rival Carlos Alcaraz in a mouth watering showdown.

But out of the two matches, Paolini wasn't the favoured Italian to do it. Something which is often the case as she continues to produce while the spotlight is shone elsewhere.

But Paolini has gone from being a player who rose up the ranks every year into the top 50, top 30 etc to being a top five star and has helped her hopes of defending her first load of points at Roland Garros a world of good.

The Italian can't be counted out either of reaching the Roland Garros final again with Iga Swiatek in particular not in form. Aryna Sabalenka lost in Rome to Zheng Qinwen while Coco Gauff perhaps is the only player out of the now top three who is in serious form.

But she buckled amid her status as a favourite at the Foro Italico. It was the dream story for Paolini who went from being a fan watching the tournament in the stands with her father as a kid who was there to winning in the same environment as a 29-year-old.

The Italian president was there, as were friends and family as well as the home crowd who have been vociferous this week albeit sometimes not to the want of players e.g Diana Shnaider and Clara Tauson. But for Paolini of course it is praise and the will to win and after a post match speech in Italian, she described what it felt like to Prakash Amritraj of Tennis Channel.

"I was trying to focus on the match and trying to repeat to myself that no matter what you have to stay there every ball. It was the best match I've played here. It was a great final, I'm really happy about the win in front of the home crowd, my family, my team and the president" said Paolini to Tennis Channel.

"I knew with Coco (Gauff) I have to raise the level a little bit from the last matches. It worked. She's coming for another final, I was like she's playing good you know but you can do it. You have to step on court and do whatever you think is right and keep on going."

"To win here in Rome it's something special. I was coming to watch this tournament with my father and my father was there. I don't know if he was crying maybe but it's a dream really."