Jasmine Paolini Fights Back to Reach Italian Open Semis in Thrilling Rome Comeback
Home favourite Paolini rallies from a set and 4-0 down to secure historic semi-final berth at the Italian Open
Jasmine Paolini gave the crowd in Rome the kind of spectacle they dream of witnessing from one of their own. In a dramatic quarter-final clash under the swirling pressure of expectation and an unexpected Roman rain delay, the 29-year-old Italian mounted a comeback full of grit, passion and poise to defeat Russia’s Diana Shnaider 6-7(1), 6-4, 6-2 and reach the semi-finals of the Italian Open.
With that win, Paolini becomes the first Italian woman to reach the last four of her home WTA 1000 tournament since 2014 — a feat last achieved by her doubles partner and compatriot Sara Errani. That year, Errani lost in the final to Serena Williams. Now, it’s Paolini’s turn to write her name into Italian tennis history.
From Despair to Delight: A Rome Revival for the Ages
If the match had been scripted, even the most imaginative writer might have hesitated to pen such a dramatic swing of momentum. Paolini dropped a tight opening set in a one-sided tie-break and then quickly fell 3-0 behind in the second as Shnaider looked poised to sweep into her first WTA 1000 semi-final with ease.
When play was suspended due to rain shortly after Shnaider held for a 4-0 lead, the outcome appeared inevitable. But the clouds didn’t just bring rain—they brought an unlikely turning point.
“I think it was a good thing that it rained for five minutes,” Paolini said afterward, with a half-smile that hinted at more than just relief. “I got some coaching from Sara.”
Her close friend and doubles partner Errani was seated in the stands and, during the brief delay, gave her encouragement and guidance that would prove to be crucial.
From that point on, it was as if a switch had flipped. Backed by a lively and increasingly vocal home crowd inside the Foro Italico, Paolini returned to court with new purpose. She won six straight games to snatch the second set from Shnaider’s grasp and force a deciding third.
“I just told myself to fight, to keep trying to make her play,” Paolini said. “The crowd gave me so much energy, and I really felt like I couldn’t let them down.”
A Masterclass in Composure to Close it Out
Where the second set was stolen with grit and momentum, the third was claimed with confidence. Shnaider, visibly shaken by the turnaround and the relentless energy of Paolini’s court coverage, could find no answers as her own game began to unravel.
Paolini, by contrast, looked increasingly assured with every point. Her footwork was sharp, her forehand electric, and her shot selection spot-on. She broke Shnaider twice and coasted through the final set 6-2, closing out the match with a triumphant roar that echoed through the Roman amphitheatre-like venue.
It was, in every sense, a moment worthy of the stage. And for Paolini, it marked a career-best result at her home tournament.
History on the Horizon as Paolini Eyes Final
Paolini closes with a flourish to reach her first Rome semifinal
The 29-year-old will now face either two-time Italian Open champion Elina Svitolina or rising American Peyton Stearns in the semi-final. On paper, neither presents an easy challenge — Svitolina brings a wealth of big-match experience and knows how to win in Rome, while Stearns, 22, has been one of the surprise packages of the tournament with her fearless baseline game.
But no matter the opponent, Paolini will walk onto the court buoyed by both belief and the roar of the crowd. She’s already matched the best run by an Italian woman at this event in a decade — and should she go one step further, she’ll move into territory uncharted since 1985.
That year, Raffaella Reggi became the only Italian woman in history to lift the trophy on home soil. Forty years on, Jasmine Paolini stands just two matches away from matching that legendary milestone.
A Season of Growth for Paolini
This performance is the latest in a string of career highlights for Paolini, who has steadily risen through the rankings over the past 18 months. Known for her relentless energy and fast feet, she has begun to pair her natural defensive skills with more aggressive court positioning and improved serving.
Seeded sixth in Rome, she’s now becoming a fixture in the latter stages of big tournaments — a sign that she’s moved beyond being a homegrown hopeful and is now a genuine contender on the world stage.
Her run to the semi-finals has also thrilled Italian fans hungry for new tennis heroes, especially in the women’s game. While the men’s side boasts stars like Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini, Paolini’s rise could reignite interest in women’s tennis throughout the country.
A Win for Italian Tennis and for Belief
Whether or not she goes on to lift the trophy, Paolini’s performance this week in Rome has already delivered a powerful message. Not just to her opponents, but to herself.
This was a match she could have lost — maybe even should have. Down a set and 4-0 in the second, it would’ve been easy to wilt under pressure. But instead, she regrouped, refocused, and roared back in front of thousands of home fans.
“It was special,” she said after the match, her voice cracking slightly with emotion. “I was playing in front of my people, my family, my friends. It means so much.”
It meant something to them too. And as the Italian Open reaches its final weekend, all eyes in Rome — and across Italy — will be on Jasmine Paolini, the fighter who refused to fold.
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