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Hindustan Times
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Pocket dynamo Paolini gets set for Paris
Mumbai: Jasmine Paolini claims she gets her tendency to smile – constantly – from her mother. On Saturday, she sang, danced, and smiled wider than she had ever before, at a packed Foro Italico in Rome. With her 6-4, 6-2 win over Coco Gauff in the final, Paolini became the first Italian woman since Raffaella Reggina in 1985 to win the Italian Open title, and the first from the country since the tournament was shifted to the capital. A day later, she became the first since Monica Seles in 1990 to win both the singles and doubles titles at the event. Her third singles WTA title – second at the 1000 Masters series and first on clay – takes her back to her career high world No.4 rank. What it should also do is secure her spot as one of the top forces on the professional circuit. The pocket dynamo from a town in Tuscany was the runner-up at both the French Open and Wimbledon Championships last year. She won gold in the women's doubles event, with Sara Errani, at the Paris Olympics last year and later led Italy to its first Billie Jean King Cup title since 2013. Yet the late-bloomer has been a largely underrated figure on the tennis tour. One of the easiest reasons to understand why is because the 29-year-old has not won too many tour titles. She had a slow start to this season, but started to pick up in March when she reached the semi-final at the Miami Masters. It was followed by a quarter-final finish at Stuttgart and then a third-round exit at the Madrid Masters. Still, she was the sixth seed in Rome and dropped just one set en route to the title – beating Ons Jabeur and former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko along the way. For all that she has achieved, she has had to punch well above her weight. In a sport that is becoming more rewarding for taller players, Paolini stands at 5-foot-4. Yet she plays an aggressive brand of tennis. 'I didn't decide to be an aggressive player,' she told WTA. 'I just liked to play like that. I like to be aggressive, even with the drop shots. And I don't like to run – I mean, I will run, but I don't like it.' With solid groundstrokes off both flanks giving her a foundation, Paolini is remarkably quick on her feet. She's made it a knack of chasing down everything thrown at her and packs a punch with heavy topspin on the forehand and – more often than not – a flat backhand. She tends to not stay too far behind the baseline as well. 'It's because I'm small that I cannot play too much behind the baseline,' Paolini, the joint-shortest player in the top 50 (with Yulia Putintseva), told WTA. 'I have to try to stay aggressive. My serve, it's okay but I have to try to make my game anyway. I'm too short to play behind.' Her weakest shot – mainly because of her height – is probably her serve. She cannot afford to hit flat serves too often. But that is not to say her serve is weak. She focuses on accuracy and does manage to put in a fair amount of power and disguise in it. On Championship Point in Rome, it was a serve down the T that Gauff – the new world No.2 who stands five inches taller than the Italian – could not get back in play. At once Paolini erupted in that big endearing smile that has captivated her home crowd. Later the audience would break into song, chanting 'ole, ole, ole, Jasmine, Jasmine.' A new war cry from the heart of Rome itself. Paolini, the smiling pocket dynamo is among the smallest players in tennis today. But she no longer stands under the radar. And at the French Open that starts next week, last year's finalist will command attention. Sumit Nagal through to 2nd round of qualis India's No.1 singles player Sumit Nagal scored a 6-1, 6-1 win over USA's Mitchell Krueger in their first round French Open qualification match on Tuesday. Nagal, who favours clay courts, is hoping to make it to the main draw of the French Open for only the second time after he earned a direct berth at the Slam last year. Now ranked 170, Nagal will play world No.225 Jurij Rodionov in the second qualification round on Thursday.
News18
15-05-2025
- Sport
- News18
Italian Open: Home Hope Jasmine Paolini Storms Into Final
Published By : AFP Last Updated: Italian Paolini posted a dominant 7-5, 6-1 win over Peyton Stearns to seal her spot in the summit clash of the event in Rome. Jasmine Paolini reached the Italian Open final on Thursday after ending Peyton Stearns' impressive run in the Rome tournament 7-5, 6-1. Home hope and sixth seed Paolini became the third Italian woman to reach the Foro Italico final, and the first since her doubles partner Sara Errani was thumped by Serena Williams in 2014. The 29-year-old will face one of Coco Gauff and China's Zheng Qinwen, who beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka on Wednesday night, with that contest the last match of the day on centre court. Paolini was favourite to get past unseeded Stearns but early on her American opponent showed why she got to her first 1000 series semi-final by knocking out a succession of big names including Naomi Osaka and fifth seed Madison Keys. Paolini looked way off the pace when she lost the first three games of the match in surprisingly timid fashion, serving weakly and mishitting a host of simple shots. But she slowly began to force herself back into the contest, putting pressure on Stearns to find shots with her serving and finding both more power and accuracy on her forehand. Stearns' frustration was clear to see after being broken to allow Paolini to serve for the set, lashing her racket into her bag before giving herself a telling off in her seat. And a break of serve in the third game of the second set deflated Stearns, whose fate was sealed two games later when Paolini took the third of three break points, roaring her joy to her delighted supporters in the centre court stands before comfortably seeing out the match. Paolini could yet win both the singles and women's doubles tournaments, with her and Errani taking on Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider in the semi-finals on Friday. Tommy Paul set up a potential semi-final in the men's tournament with Jannik Sinner after beating Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 to move into the last four in Rome. American Paul come through a humdrum quarter-final to reach the Foro Italico semis, where he awaits one of Sinner or Casper Ruud, for the second straight year. 'I just feel comfortable out here and yeah I've been playing some good tennis this week," said Paul. Sinner faces by the far the toughest test since his return from a three-month doping ban when he takes on sixth seed Ruud in the first of two evening matches on centre court. The world number one is yet to drop a set on home clay but Ruud is on a hot streak and eyeing a second straight 1000 Masters triumph after breaking his duck in Madrid earlier this month. Norwegian Ruud has won more matches on clay than any other player on the men's tour in the last five years and Sinner is still finding his feet after his suspension, accepted from the World Anti-Doping Agency for testing positive for traces of clostebol in March last year. If Sinner gets through to the semis it will be the first time two Italian men have reached the last four of a Masters 1000 tournament since the series' creation 35 years ago, with Lorenzo Musetti facing Carlos Alcaraz on Friday. (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - AFP) Location : Italy First Published:
France 24
15-05-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Paolini delights home crowd by reaching 'dream' Italian Open final
Home hope and sixth seed Paolini became the third Italian woman to reach the Foro Italico final, and the first since her doubles partner Sara Errani was thumped by Serena Williams in 2014. The 29-year-old will face one of Coco Gauff and China's Zheng Qinwen, who beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka on Wednesday night, with that contest the last match of the day on centre court. "It's a dream of mine to get to the final here. It was a difficult start, thank goodness you were all here to give me a boost," Paolini said on court. "I didn't have a great feeling at the beginning of the match but I'm really happy about how I managed to turn it around." Paolini was favourite to get past unseeded Stearns but early on her American opponent showed why she got to her first 1000 series semi-final by knocking out a succession of big names including Naomi Osaka and fifth seed Madison Keys. Paolini looked way off the pace when she lost the first three games of the match in surprisingly timid fashion, serving weakly and mishitting a host of simple shots. But she slowly began to force herself back into the contest, putting pressure on Stearns to find shots with her serving and finding both more power and accuracy on her forehand. Stearns' frustration was clear to see after being broken to allow Paolini to serve for the set, lashing her racket into her bag before giving herself a telling off in her seat. And a break of serve in the third game of the second set deflated Stearns, whose fate was sealed two games later when Paolini took the third of three break points, roaring her joy to her delighted supporters in the centre court stands before comfortably seeing out the match. Paolini could yet win both the singles and women's doubles tournaments, with her and Errani taking on Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider in the semi-finals on Friday. Paul eyes Sinner Tommy Paul set up a potential semi-final in the men's tournament with Jannik Sinner after beating Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 to move into the last four in Rome. American Paul come through a humdrum quarter-final to reach the Foro Italico semis, where he awaits one of Sinner or Casper Ruud, for the second straight year. "I just feel comfortable out here and yeah I've been playing some good tennis this week," said Paul. Sinner faces by the far the toughest test since his return from a three-month doping ban when he takes on sixth seed Ruud in the first of two evening matches on centre court. The world number one is yet to drop a set on home clay but Ruud is on a hot streak and eyeing a second straight 1000 Masters triumph after breaking his duck in Madrid earlier this month. Norwegian Ruud has won more matches on clay than any other player on the men's tour in the last five years and Sinner is still finding his feet after his suspension, accepted from the World Anti-Doping Agency for testing positive for traces of clostebol in March last year. If Sinner gets through to the semis it will be the first time two Italian men have reached the last four of a Masters 1000 tournament since the series' creation 35 years ago, with Lorenzo Musetti facing Carlos Alcaraz on Friday.
Straits Times
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Jasmine Paolini delights home crowd by reaching ‘dream' Italian Open final
Italy's Jasmine Paolini celebrates after winning her semi final match against Peyton Stearns of the US. PHOTO: REUTERS ROME - Jasmine Paolini reached the Italian Open final on May 15 after ending Peyton Stearns' impressive run in the Rome tournament 7-5, 6-1. Home hope and sixth seed Paolini became the third Italian woman to reach the Foro Italico final, and the first since her doubles partner Sara Errani was thumped by Serena Williams in 2014. The 29-year-old will face either Coco Gauff or China's Zheng Qinwen, who beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka on May 14, with that contest the last match of the day on centre court. 'It's a dream of mine to get to the final here. It was a difficult start, thank goodness you were all here to give me a boost,' Paolini said on court. 'I didn't have a great feeling at the beginning of the match but I'm really happy about how I managed to turn it around.' Paolini was favourite to get past unseeded Stearns but early on her American opponent showed why she got to her first 1000 series semi-final by knocking out a succession of big names including Naomi Osaka and fifth seed Madison Keys. Paolini looked way off the pace when she lost the first three games of the match in surprisingly timid fashion, serving weakly and mishitting a host of simple shots. But she slowly began to force herself back into the contest, putting pressure on Stearns to find shots with her serving and finding both more power and accuracy on her forehand. Stearns' frustration was clear to see after being broken to allow Paolini to serve for the set, lashing her racket into her bag before giving herself a telling off in her seat. And a break of serve in the third game of the second set deflated Stearns, whose fate was sealed two games later when Paolini took the third of three break points, roaring her joy to her delighted supporters in the centre court stands before comfortably seeing out the match. Paolini could yet win both the singles and women's doubles tournaments, with her and Errani taking on Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider in the semi-finals on May 16. Paul eyes Sinner Tommy Paul set up a potential semi-final in the men's tournament with Jannik Sinner after beating Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 to move into the last four in Rome. American Paul come through a humdrum quarter-final to reach the Foro Italico semis, where he awaits one of Sinner or Casper Ruud, for the second straight year. 'I just feel comfortable out here and yeah I've been playing some good tennis this week,' said Paul. Sinner faces by the far the toughest test since his return from a three-month doping ban when he takes on sixth seed Ruud in the first of two evening matches on centre court. The world number one is yet to drop a set on home clay but Ruud is on a hot streak and eyeing a second straight 1000 Masters triumph after breaking his duck in Madrid earlier this month. Norwegian Ruud has won more matches on clay than any other player on the men's tour in the last five years and Sinner is still finding his feet after his suspension, accepted from the World Anti-Doping Agency for testing positive for traces of clostebol in March 2024. If Sinner gets through to the semis it will be the first time two Italian men have reached the last four of a Masters 1000 tournament since the series' creation 35 years ago, with Lorenzo Musetti facing Carlos Alcaraz on May 16. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Paolini delights home crowd by reaching 'dream' Italian Open final
Jasmine Paolini reached the Italian Open final on Thursday after ending Peyton Stearns' impressive run in the Rome tournament 7-5, 6-1. Home hope and sixth seed Paolini became the third Italian woman to reach the Foro Italico final, and the first since her doubles partner Sara Errani was thumped by Serena Williams in 2014. Advertisement The 29-year-old will face one of Coco Gauff and China's Zheng Qinwen, who beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka on Wednesday night, with that contest the last match of the day on centre court. "It's a dream of mine to get to the final here. It was a difficult start, thank goodness you were all here to give me a boost," Paolini said on court. "I didn't have a great feeling at the beginning of the match but I'm really happy about how I managed to turn it around." Paolini was favourite to get past unseeded Stearns but early on her American opponent showed why she got to her first 1000 series semi-final by knocking out a succession of big names including Naomi Osaka and fifth seed Madison Keys. Advertisement Paolini looked way off the pace when she lost the first three games of the match in surprisingly timid fashion, serving weakly and mishitting a host of simple shots. But she slowly began to force herself back into the contest, putting pressure on Stearns to find shots with her serving and finding both more power and accuracy on her forehand. Stearns' frustration was clear to see after being broken to allow Paolini to serve for the set, lashing her racket into her bag before giving herself a telling off in her seat. And a break of serve in the third game of the second set deflated Stearns, whose fate was sealed two games later when Paolini took the third of three break points, roaring her joy to her delighted supporters in the centre court stands before comfortably seeing out the match. Advertisement Paolini could yet win both the singles and women's doubles tournaments, with her and Errani taking on Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider in the semi-finals on Friday. - Paul eyes Sinner - Tommy Paul set up a potential semi-final in the men's tournament with Jannik Sinner after beating Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 to move into the last four in Rome. American Paul come through a humdrum quarter-final to reach the Foro Italico semis, where he awaits one of Sinner or Casper Ruud, for the second straight year. "I just feel comfortable out here and yeah I've been playing some good tennis this week," said Paul. Advertisement Sinner faces by the far the toughest test since his return from a three-month doping ban when he takes on sixth seed Ruud in the first of two evening matches on centre court. The world number one is yet to drop a set on home clay but Ruud is on a hot streak and eyeing a second straight 1000 Masters triumph after breaking his duck in Madrid earlier this month. Norwegian Ruud has won more matches on clay than any other player on the men's tour in the last five years and Sinner is still finding his feet after his suspension, accepted from the World Anti-Doping Agency for testing positive for traces of clostebol in March last year. If Sinner gets through to the semis it will be the first time two Italian men have reached the last four of a Masters 1000 tournament since the series' creation 35 years ago, with Lorenzo Musetti facing Carlos Alcaraz on Friday. td/ea/bsp
