Jasmine Paolini, freshly crowned champion of the prestigious Dubai tournament, took a moment to commend her compatriot, Jannik Sinner, for his profound impact on the landscape of Italian tennis. Paolini’s triumph in Dubai marks a significant milestone in her career, adding to her accolades that include the 2021 Slovenia Open title.
Paolini’s path to victory in Dubai was no easy feat, as she overcame formidable opponents such as Beatriz Haddad Maia, Leylah Fernandez, Maria Sakkari, Sorana Cirstea, and Anna Kalinskaya. Reflecting on her achievement, Paolini attributed her success not only to years of dedicated effort but also to the collective momentum propelling Italian tennis to new heights.
“Behind my victory there is work that has been going on for years, but also the collective wave of these crazy months,” Paolini remarked, acknowledging the burgeoning success of Italian tennis, as reported by Corriere.it.
Italy boasts a rich tennis history, with luminaries like Nicola Pietrangeli, Adriano Panatta, Francesca Schiavone, and Flavia Pennetta etching their names in the annals of the sport. However, recent years have witnessed a resurgence in Italian tennis, highlighted by historic achievements on the international stage.
In 2023, Italy’s Billie Jean King Cup team reached their first final in a decade, followed shortly by the male counterparts clinching their first Davis Cup title in 47 years, with Jannik Sinner playing a pivotal role in the triumph. Sinner’s remarkable journey continued as he captivated audiences at the 2023 ATP Finals in Turin, securing the runner-up position. Notably, Sinner’s crowning moment arrived at the 2024 Australian Open, where he became the first Italian, male or female, to claim the Grand Slam title in Melbourne.
In a recent interview, Paolini lauded Sinner for his instrumental role in elevating Italian tennis and bringing newfound recognition to the sport in their homeland. She highlighted how Sinner’s success has not only shone a spotlight on male tennis but also positively influenced the visibility and perception of women’s tennis.
“Jannik brought tennis to TG1 [the longest-running newscast in Italy] and also brought light to us girls,” Paolini remarked, underscoring the transformative impact of Sinner’s achievements. “Before there wasn’t the right visibility, not even when the generation of Pennetta, Schiavone, Vinci, and Errani won heavy tournaments. It’s a question of culture: not just Italian, but of the world. But today the air we breathe has changed,” she added.
As Italian tennis continues to flourish on the global stage, the collective efforts of athletes like Jasmine Paolini and Jannik Sinner promise to inspire future generations and cement Italy’s status as a powerhouse in the world of tennis.
Jasmine Paolini in 2024
WLWLLWLWWL Ranked world no.14 (career-high), Jasmine played her last match on the 24th of February when she defeated world no.24 Anna Kalinskaya 4-6 7-5 7-5 in the final in Dubai to win her 2nd career title.
During this season Jasmine has achieved a compiled 9-5 win-loss record. Paolini clinched 1 title in Dubai.
Jannik Sinner in 2024
WWWWWWWWWW At the moment ranked no.3 (career-high), Jannik played his last match on the 18th of February when he defeated world no.9 Alex De Minaur 7-5 6-4 in the final in Rotterdam to win his 13th career title.
Presently, during this year the Italian has achieved a 12-0 record. The Italian has won 2 titles in 2024 at the Australian Open and Rotterdam.
Sinner will play next in Indian Wells (BNP Paribas Open). He will start the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 4th of March.
Jasmine Paolini and Jannik Sinner |
| Embed from Getty Images |
