Women’s Doubles: Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini made history by winning Italy’s first-ever Olympic tennis gold medal. The Italian duo triumphed in a thrilling match against Russians Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider, who competed as neutrals, with a final score of 2-6, 6-1, (10-7).
The match began with a strong start from Andreeva and Shnaider, who claimed the first set. However, Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini rallied back with determination, dominating the second set and clinching the gold in a tense super tiebreak.
Sara Errani, a former world number one in doubles, added, “We struggled initially, but we turned it around beautifully.” The victory not only brought Italy its first tennis gold medal but also marked Errani’s completion of the prestigious career Golden Slam in women’s doubles. At 37, she became the oldest player to win an Olympic tennis gold, surpassing Novak Djokovic’s record by just a month.
The bronze medal match saw Spain’s Cristina Bucsa and Sara Sorribes Tormo defeat Czech players Linda Noskova and Karolina Muchova. This historic win for Italy comes just a day after Lorenzo Musetti claimed bronze in the men’s singles, adding to the country’s proud Olympic legacy.
Italy’s previous Olympic tennis success dates back to the 1924 Paris Games, where Uberto de Morpurgo won bronze in men’s singles. Reflecting on their journey, Errani shared, “In the first set, we struggled to find our rhythm, but we stayed focused. The second set was a game-changer; we served better, played deeper, and found our groove.”
Paolini and Errani’s resilience shone through as they adapted their strategy, increasing their aggression and keeping their opponents under pressure.
Andreeva, at just 17, became the second youngest Olympic tennis medalist in history, following Jennifer Capriati’s gold in Barcelona at 16. Despite their loss, the Russian pair was pleased with their silver medal. Shnaider expressed their pride, saying, “It was our first time, and we’re happy with the result. There’s room for improvement, but this silver is a great start.”
This historic achievement not only highlights Italy’s growing prominence in international tennis but also sets a new standard for the nation’s athletes on the global stage.
