By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday July 12, 2024
During her post-match press conference at Wimbledon on Thursday, after coming through the longest women’s semifinal in tournament history, Italian Jasmine Paolini was asked what she would think if somebody told her last year that she would be playing back to back finals at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon?
Easy question…
“You are crazy, I would say, yes,” she said.
Paolini, one of two Italians to showcase the level of class talent that is percolating behind World No.1 Jannik Sinner by reaching the semis this Wimbledon fortnight (the other being Lorenzo Musetti), was also asked what has surprised her the most about herself during this impressive season that has season her become the first Italian to reach a Wimbledon final, and just the fifth woman in the last 25 years to reach the finals at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon in the same season.
She says it is her ability to take everything in stride that has surprised her the most.
“Two Grand Slam finals in a row was crazy to believe, I think, no?” she said, adding: “I’m also surprised at how at the moment, until now in this moment, I’m living this.
Paolini says she has basically gone about her work as she normally does, just staying switched into tournament mode, taking things as they come.
The No.7 seed hopes she can continue that way, but admits that it might be tough to handle the nerves when she waks out on Centre Court for the women’s final against Barbora Krejcikova on Saturday.
Helpful, of course, is the fact that she walked out onto Court Philippe-Chatrier just over a month ago, and played her heart out against Iga Swiatek in her maiden Grand Slam final. She lost, but the experience will certainly help Paolini on Saturday.
“I feel maybe Saturday I will be so nervous, I don’t know,” she said. “But I feel also relaxed. I’m the same person. I’m doing the same things. I’m surprised a little bit how I’m managing this. I don’t want to say more because maybe Saturday I’m going to be shaking. I’m surprised by myself to live this with really relaxing mood, you know?”
Absolutely fantastic!!! I’m so happy with this win. I will remember this match forever! It was a roller coaster. Thank you for cheering for me!! 🇮🇹😀@Wimbledon 📷: ITF pic.twitter.com/bDLG59MMA3
— Jasmine Paolini (@JasminePaolini) July 11, 2024
To say that Paolini’s success comes as a surprise would be the understatement of the 2024 season. The Italian turned 28 on…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Blog RSS…