Jasmine Paolini, born on 4 January 1996, is one of Italy’s brightest tennis talents. Her rise in 2024 cemented her place as one of the most promising players on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) circuit.
Paolini’s journey began in her hometown of Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, a picturesque town in Tuscany. With her father of Italian heritage and her mother of Ghanaian-Polish descent, she brings a unique cultural background to the court. Paolini first picked up a racket at a young age and quickly demonstrated her talent.
Jasmine Paolini turned professional in 2011 and worked tirelessly to establish herself on the international stage. Despite her relatively small stature in the tennis world, she stands at just 5 feet 4 inches, she developed a dynamic and aggressive style of play. Her ability to counter her opponents’ power with precision and agility has earned her admiration across the sport. Her sunny on-court attitude and resilience have also made her a fan favourite worldwide.
A Remarkable 2024 Season
In 2024, Paolini scaled new heights, reaching No. 4 in the world rankings, equalling Francesca Schiavone’s historic achievement in 2010. She reached two Grand Slam finals, won her second career WTA 1000 title, and helped Italy claim the Billie Jean King Cup.
At the French Open, Paolini made an impressive run as the 12th seed, defeating Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals and Russia’s Mirra Andreeva in the semi-finals. She ultimately fell to world No. 1 Iga Świątek in the final. At Wimbledon, Paolini defied expectations by reaching the final despite never advancing past the first round in previous years. She defeated Madison Keys and Emma Navarro before outlasting Donna Vekić in a semi-final marathon lasting two hours and 51 minutes. In the final, she battled Czech star Barbora Krejčíková but fell short in three sets.
Paolini also shone at the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning doubles gold alongside Sara Errani, Italy’s most decorated women’s doubles player. The pair defeated the Russian duo of Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider in the final. Paolini was also a member of the Italian team which became world champions winning the Billie Jean King Cup. Jasmine Paolini capped her year by reaching the singles quarter-finals at the Wuhan Open in October, securing her place among the world’s top four players.
