Tennis Highlights: Paolini's Historic Win and Alcaraz's Dominant Performance

Get the highlights from the Rome Masters, featuring Jannik Sinner's strong return and Iga Swiatek's disappointing exit.

Carlos Alcaraz claimed his first Rome Masters title, defeating Jannik Sinner 7-6(5), 6-1 in the final. This impressive win serves as a strong statement ahead of the French Open, where Alcaraz will look to defend his title. Sinner, making a return from injury, showed promise but ultimately couldn't match Alcaraz's level.

Jasmine Paolini made history by winning the Rome double, claiming both the women's singles and doubles titles. This impressive achievement showcases her exceptional skill and versatility on the court. Paolini's victory marks a significant milestone in her career, solidifying her position as a top contender in the tennis world.

Amore a prima vista. 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/tgZELR9JLr

— Jasmine Paolini (@JasminePaolini) May 19, 2025

Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz's match against Jannik Sinner was highly anticipated, but ultimately, Alcaraz's strong performance stalled Sinner's return to form. The match highlighted the competitive nature of the ATP Tour, where top players constantly push each other to new heights.

Jasmine Paolini made history by winning the Rome double, claiming both the women's singles and doubles titles. This impressive achievement showcases her exceptional skill and versatility on the court. Paolini's victory marks a significant milestone in her career, solidifying her position as a top contender in the tennis world.

Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz's match against Jannik Sinner was highly anticipated, but ultimately, Alcaraz's strong performance stalled Sinner's return to form. The match highlighted the competitive nature of the ATP Tour, where top players constantly push each other to new heights.

Carlos Alcaraz claimed the Rome Masters title, defeating Jannik Sinner 7-6(5), 6-1 in a thrilling final. Alcaraz navigated a challenging first set, marked by errors and a strong contest from Sinner. However, he accelerated in the second set, dominating the Italian player.

This victory marks Alcaraz's second Masters 1000 title of the year, following his win in Monte Carlo last month. As a result, he rises to second in the rankings, just behind Sinner. Despite the loss, Sinner's performance in Rome was encouraging, and fans can look forward to a potential rematch at Roland Garros.

Jasmine Paolini made history by winning the Rome Masters title, defeating Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-2 in the final. The Italian player showcased her exceptional skill, delivering a near-perfect performance to claim her second WTA 1000 crown.

Paolini's journey to the title wasn't without challenges, as she faced tough matches against Diana Shnaider and Peyton Stearns. However, she elevated her game for the final, demonstrating her ability to rise to the occasion. With this win, Paolini became the first Italian woman to claim the Rome Masters title since Raffaella Reggi in 1985, marking a significant milestone in Italian tennis.

Strugglers of the Tournament

Iga Swiatek's early exit in Rome has led to a significant drop in her WTA rankings, falling to fifth place. This marks the first time she's been outside the top three since March 2022. Swiatek, a three-time champion in Rome, has struggled with form, losing to Danielle Collins in the third round.

Swiatek's recent performances have been disappointing, with losses to Mirra Andreeva, Alexandra Eala, and Jelena Ostapenko. She's also been outshone by Coco Gauff in the Madrid semi-finals. Without a title since last year's French Open, Swiatek's confidence appears to be at an all-time low.

Jasmine Paolini's winning streak continued as she claimed the doubles title alongside Sara Errani, defeating Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens 6-4, 7-5. This impressive achievement solidifies her rising star status in the tennis world.

Paolini's remarkable form over the past 18 months has propelled her up the rankings, and she'll enter the French Open in fourth place. Having narrowly missed out on the title at Roland Garros last year, Paolini will be determined to capture her first Grand Slam title, making her upcoming performance highly anticipated.

Iga Swiatek heads to Roland Garros, her favorite tournament, with a lot to prove. However, her current form suggests a potential quarter-final clash against a top seed could be a significant hurdle. Swiatek will need to regain her confidence and form to overcome this challenge and make a strong run in the tournament.

The American player will aim to improve his performance on clay in Paris next week, seeking to advance beyond the fourth round for the first time. Historically, he has struggled to find his best form on this surface, making progress a key goal.

Moment of the Tournament

Jannik Sinner's quarter-final match against Casper Ruud was a highlight of the tournament. Sinner dominated the Norwegian player, winning 6-0, 6-1 in just 64 minutes. The Italian's performance was near-perfect, with Ruud praising his opponent's exceptional level of tennis.

“It's as near as perfect that I witnessed, at least as a player, playing someone, so just got to give it to him,” Ruud said. “You just look at the guy and say 'wow this is kind of next-level shit', excuse my language. I don't know what else to say, it was almost fun to witness." Sinner's impressive display sent a strong message to the rest of the Tour, despite ultimately falling short in the final.

Thrilling Rallies

Elina Svitolina showcased her exceptional skill with a stunning rally against Peyton Stearns in the Rome quarter-final. Her impressive display highlighted her growing form on clay courts.

Meanwhile, Alexander Zverev demonstrated his high level of play with an epic point in his quarter-final match against Lorenzo Musetti. Although Zverev ultimately fell short, his shot-making and determination were on full display.

Upcoming Tournaments

The week ahead features four tune-up tournaments before the French Open, with notable players in action. Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz lead the field in Geneva, seeking to gain clay-court momentum. Alexander Zverev and Jessica Pegula are top seeds in Hamburg and Strasbourg, respectively. Additionally, a WTA 250 event takes place in Rabat, providing more opportunities for players to prepare for the French Open.