Though disappointed by her performance, the Italian player gives credit to Ludmila Samsonova. “If she makes few mistakes, she’s a very tough player to deal with. I think she played one of her best matches“
Jasmine Paolini appears to be quite unruffled by her dim performance against Ludmila Samsonova. In an exclusive interview with our correspondents in Palm Springs, Vanni Gibertini and Luca Baldissera. she’s eager to share her considerations, amid smiles and self-irony.
UBITENNIS: Jasmine, the first set went by in a flash.
JASMINE PAOLINI: “Yes, it was definitely a difficult first set. She missed very few shots. If she makes few mistakes, she becomes a very tough player to deal with. She has proved this several times. It was a very tricky match. in the second set I managed, somehow, to stay close to her, but not enough. I’m sorry for how the match went, I feel that especially at the beginning of the second set I could have done a little more, found a way to break through, but she neverreally gave me pace.I struggled to get into the game, to dictate the rallies, because either she was getting the upper hand, or even if maybe she gave me a slower ball it was as if Iwassurprised, so I struggled even from that point of view, so it becomes difficult.”
UBITENNIS: She was practically perfect, you were a little subdued. In a sport with very small margins like tennis, this is what happens. The moment you feel the wave overwhelming you, what can you do?
JASMINE PAOLINI: “I tried to stay in the match, to go on telling myself that she may her level. And in a couple of games, this actually happened, but it wasn’t enough because she had already rushed away. I tried to stay positive, cling onto the match, even if it was difficult because honestly, with a player like her it’s not easy. Today, I think she probably played one of the best matches, so I have to give her credit, but also see the things that can be improved. There are many things that can be done better”.
UBITENNIS: What’s the most positive thing that can come out of today? Even on the worst days you can find something positive.
JASMINE PAOLINI: “I hope I have learned something. Our head-to-head is definitely in her favour, so it means that she plays well against me, and I struggle more with her type of game and… I don’t know, I’ll try to jolt down a few things after this match so as to get off to a better start next time I face her. Of course, if she plays like she did in the first set, it’s going to be hard, because she’s a player who serves very well, she gives you little margin, so let’s hope she won’t have such a good day”
UBITENNIS: At least you made fewer unforced errors.
JASMINE PAOLINI: “Yes, because there were too many winners. There were unforced errors today too. In my opinion, I struggled to find my rhythm because she constantly had me on the ropes, as I said before. Maybe she was hitting a few slower balls, and hitting through others, and I was a little unsettled.I can certainly be more brilliant from a physical point of view, today I struggled more. There are things to fix. If I were to list them, we may stay here for hours and hours.”
