Coco Gauff vs Jasmine Paolini Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Gauff to secure first Rome title

Gauff has enjoyed a resurgent last couple of weeks on clay and is back playing some of her best tennis, while Paolini has advanced into her first final of 2025 - and what better tournament to do so than her home event in Rome. Who will emerge with the prestigious WTA 1000 title in the Italian capital?

I'm leaning towards Gauff. At her best, she's simply the superior player - and she's been playing some brilliant tennis on clay over the last two tournaments, recording four top 10 scalps. Paolini has obviously done a tremendous job in handling the pressure of playing at home, but she had a fairly comfortable draw, with Diana Shnaider her highest-ranked opponent - while Gauff had to contend with top 10 stars Mirra Andreeva and Qinwen Zheng.

Paolini beat Gauff to launch the clay swing in Stuttgart, but I think the tables turn here. Gauff looks determined to break through for a first title of 2025 here and she warmed up nicely for this moment in Madrid. Seven of Gauff's last nine wins have come in straight sets, so the plus money on offer looks decent value.

Gauff leads 2-1, but Paolini won their most-recent and only clash on clay in Stuttgart last month by a 6-4 6-3 score.

Gauff has improved her record to 24-7 for the season and will be searching for her first title of the year on Saturday.

Somewhat surprisingly, Gauff really struggled for her best tennis across the opening months of the year after ending 2024 by securing the WTA Finals silverware.

However, Gauff has recaptured her best tennis on clay, reaching back-to-back WTA 1000 finals in Madrid and Rome, taking four top 10 scalps along the way.

It took World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to edge her in the Madrid showpiece, while Gauff has knocked out the likes of Emma Raducanu, Mirra Andreeva and Qinwen Zheng to make her first Rome final after two previous semi-final exits.

Gauff had to dig deep in the semis against Zheng, recovering from a mini-break down in the deciding-set tiebreak to prevail 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(4).

Paolini comes into this final showdown with a 21-8 record on the season.

Under huge pressure to defend the truckload of points she accumulated during the European summer last year, Paolini has given herself a bit of a buffer by advancing to the Rome final, with the Italian defending Roland Garros and Wimbledon runner-up points over the coming months.

After a relatively slow start to the season, Paolini raised her level to reach back-to-back semi-finals in Miami and Stuttgart, where it took Sabalenka to knock her out in both. A loss to Maria Sakkari in Madrid was disappointing, but Paolini has bounced back strongly in Rome.

Indeed, Paolini has only dropped one set on her way to the final, toppling Lulu Sun, Ons Jabeur, Jelena Ostapenko, Diana Shnaider and Peyton Stearns.

Paolini took advantage of a fatigued Stearns in the semis, registering a 7-5 6-1 victory and she will now be aiming to become the first Italian woman since Raffaella Reggi in 1985 to win the Rome title.