Olympic champions Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini fought back from 0-4 down in each set to beat Elise Mertens and Veronika Kudemertova 6-4 7-5 after 1 hour and 45 minutes in the final of the BNL internazionali d’Italia at the Foro Italico in Rome.
Paolini completed a historic double one day after becoming the first Italian player to win the singles title at the Internazionali d’Italia since Raffaella Reggi in 1985.
Paolini has become the first player to win both the singles and the doubles titles in the same edition of a WTA 1000 tournament since Vera Zvonareva claimed both titles at Indian Wells in 2009.
“It’s amazing. It’s been two amazing weeks, incredible. I don’t know what to say. It’s just perfect, you know?”, said Paolini.
Errani and Paolini have become the first players to claim back-to-back doubles titles in Rome since Ashleigh Barty achieved this feat in 2018 with Demi Schuurs and 2019.
“It was an incredible atmosphere. The stadium was full of people, so was so nice. Was a tough match, 4-0 both sets. Not easy match. They play so good. They play so strong.”
Errani won her third doubles title. She won this title in 2012 with her longtime teammate Roberta Vinci.
Kudemertova and Mertens, who were playing only their second tournament together since 2022. They won the 2022 WTA Finals and reached the final in Madrid earlier this year.
Mertens and Kudemertova went up a double break to race out to a 4-0 lead in the first set. Errani and Paolini held serve to reduce the deficit to 1-4 after Kudemertova fired a shot long on the deciding point. Errani and Paolini reeled off six games in a row to win the first set 6-4.
Errani and Paolini won three consecutive games from 3-4 down in the first set on the deciding point.
Errani and Paolini fought back from 0-4 to draw level to 4-4 in the second set. Mertens broke serve in the ninth game to take a 5-4 lead.
Mertens set a set point with a overhead winner. Errani and Paolini forced a rally forehand wide on a deciding point to break back for 5-5. Paolini hit a forehand return winner on the deciding point on the first championships point.
