In an interview with Supertennis, the Italian free-to-air and satellite tennis channel, the Swedish champion and tennis pundit is lavish with praise for Jasmine Paolini and provides some insight into her success.
Over the last fifteen months, since her breakthrough in Dubai, her first WTA 1000 triumph, Jasmine Paolini has won the heart of many fans. Among them Mats Wilander. Just before the Wimbledon Women’s final he had called her “a breath of fresh air for women’s tennis” and today, he is delighted to join in with the chorus of celebrations of the home champion. Former winner in Rome, who can understand better than him the thrill of winning before the people in Rome, one of the hottest crowds in the world?
“I think she’s happier than any other player who has won the Italian Open. In my opinion she played the perfect match. Coco Gauff did not get off to a good start and after that she was never able to work her way back into the match. But Jasmine played really well. I was impressed by how the public of Rome was very respectful towards Coco Gauff: a great atmosphere, a fantastic moment of tennis”.
How can a 5ft 4 girl unleash such power?
“Jasmine is really impressive. You have to see her play live to realize how much power she expresses. She moves incredibly well, she has a huge anticipation skills. But what impressed me most is her character, what she delivers. People love her because she’s always smiling. Even when she misses shots, she still smiles. Jasmine is the most beautiful thing that has happened in women’s tennis in a long time”
