Barbara Paulus defeated Adriana Gersi 6-1 6-3 in the Rome round of 32 on clay. The upset overturned the form book — Adriana Gersi came in leading the head-to-head 1–0. Barbara Paulus claimed a first win over Adriana Gersi in two meetings, narrowing the head-to-head to 1–1.
| Date | Tournament | Round | Surface | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-05-12 | Berlin | R64 | grass | Adriana Gersi | 7-5 6-7 6-4 |