ITF World Champion award tops off Errani, Paolini's glory-filled week
It proved a trophy-laden week for Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini as they were showered in silverware – including their 2024 ITF World Champion presented by UNIQLO awards – at the Italian Open in Rome.
The ITF are presenting players with their 2024 ITF World Champion trophies, which are given to the most outstanding competitors each year, at prominent and meaningful locations throughout the season.
It was Errani and Paolini’s electrifying performances for Italy which saw them emerge as ITF World Champions in the women's doubles category. The duo won an historic gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Tennis Event before leading Italy to the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge title.
While this is the first time that Paolini has been crowned an ITF World Champion, it is the fourth occasion that Errani has been named women’s doubles World Champion, having won three awards with compatriot Roberta Vinci.
The ITF World Champion awards were presented to Errani and Paolini just days before their latest successes. Paolini claimed her first singles title of the season, beating Coco Gauff in the Italian Open final, to signal her intentions ahead of Roland Garros, while she and Errani triumphed in the doubles. Quite a week!
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“We want to thank the ITF for this award. Last season was amazing with so many good tournaments that we played together,” said Paolini, who is currently ranked No. 4 in the WTA singles rankings.
Errani, who was named ITF World Champion for the first time in 2012, added: “For us, the best moment for sure was the gold medal in Paris at the Olympics. We are very happy, and we want to thank everyone for this trophy.”
As Errani alludes, a very special story unfolded at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in August as the intrepid pair joined forces to win the women’s doubles on the Parisian clay and deliver Italy’s first-ever Olympic tennis gold medal.
They defeated Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider 2-6 6-1 10-7 in the final, which also gave Errani her career Golden Slam having already won the women’s doubles title at the four Grand Slams.
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Errani and Paolini were also instrumental as Italy shrugged off a heartbreaking loss in the final 12 months earlier to defeat Slovakia and seal their first Billie Jean King Cup title since 2013.
It was a memorable week and a fitting climax to a wonderful season for Errani and Paolini, who won two deciding doubles matches as Italy were crowned world champions in the women’s World Cup of Tennis for the fifth time.
Errani and Paolini won a further three titles across 2024 – at Linz, Rome and the China Open – to rubberstamp their status as a formidable pairing. They have continued that form into this season during which they have claimed a further two titles.
Congratulazioni, Sara and Jasmine.