Paulini continued to set a record in professional women's tennis for nearly 16 years at the 2025 Rome Tennis Tournament

After Paulini won the first Italian player to win the women's singles championship in Rome tennis in 40 years, she and the veteran Elani defeated Belgium Mertense / Russian Kudermetova 6:4, 7:5 in the women's doubles final on the 18th local time.

Paulini/Ellani.

Paulini and her compatriot Elani, who were last year's Rome Women's Doubles champions, were third seeded and defending champions on clay this time back, facing the re-aligned Mertens and Kudermetova who were back to start the game from 4-0 in two sets before finishing a thrilling show on Centre Court in Piazza d'Italia after one hour and 45 minutes. The 29-year-old was also the icing on the cake, becoming the first Russian star in Indian Wells since 2009ZvonarevaSince then, he has been the first winner of the WTA 1,000-point tournament to win both singles and doubles.

Paulini/Ellani, who specialise on clay, won the women's doubles gold medal at Roland Garros at the Paris Olympics last year, and now Roma has completed their second consecutive victory and is once again the favorite pair to win the French Open, with the pair finishing runners-up last time.