Jasmine Paolini is ‘happy’ about her Roland Garros run despite her 6-2 6-1 defeat to Iga Swiatek.
It wasn’t to be for Paolini as she lost 12 of the last 13 games in her convincing defeat to the world number one.
Despite the loss, Paolini became the first Italian female since Roberta Vinci in 2015 to reach a Grand Slam final.
Speaking after her defeat to Swiatek, Paolini said this was a ‘happy moment’ for her after reaching a maiden Grand Slam final, “Yeah, of course I’m really happy,” Paolini stated.
“Now it’s a strange feeling. I just lost the final, but I think I have to be happy of those two weeks, you know, and my new ranking. It’s a happy moment for me. It’s not a sad moment. Yeah, I have to admit to try to see the things like that.”
Although the tournament was a happy one, it was a tough match to lose for Paolini who started by breaking the world number one’s serve but ultimately was outclassed by the now four-time champion.
After the match Paolini detailed what makes Swiatek such a tough player on clay and whether she could have done anything better, “I mean, she’s playing unbelievable here,” Paolini said in praise of Swiatek.
“She’s taking the balls early, taking time to you, but also using rotation. She can defend really, really well. On clay, she’s unbelievable. Also on hard court, come on, she won so many tournaments this year.
“But I think to play her here, it’s something different. She won already four titles, and she’s still 22 years old. These numbers are not, let’s say, normal, are something unbelievable. Yeah, I think she’s unbelievable player.
“I tried my best today. Maybe. Maybe I could do some, I don’t know, more games to try to be more in the match. I don’t know. Maybe she could do more mistakes; maybe not. Because she was playing unbelievable level I think all the match. No mistakes, hitting winners.
“I mean, I tried to play my best, but it’s not easy I think also to play at that intensity. I never played a player that has this intensity before in my life. So was my first time facing a player that, yeah, is taking time as much as she does, but also hitting winners and be close on the court, you know. So for me, right now, yeah, I think it was the most challenging match I played in my entire career.”
A tough defeat but a proud moment for Paolini who will be a top ten player for the first time in her career on Monday.
Now the next goal for the Italian is to maintain her consistency and level throughout the rest of the season, “I think that my goal right now is to try to keep this level, to let’s say play against Iga one more time,” Paolini analysed.
“I don’t know where. It can be second round, can be first round. I don’t care. I think to play against her can give me something to add things to my game. You know, it’s challenging, but the same time, I can understand more what I have to improve, what I have to add to my game.
“So I am enjoying the moment. As I said, I love to play at this level with those players. I played Rybakina, which is world No. 4. I played Iga, which is World No. 1. I don’t know where the future can bring me. I don’t know which one is my next dream. But, you know, I’m enjoying the moment, I’m in the present, and I think it’s nice to discover, you know, step by step.”
Paolini will now look to end her Roland Garros campaign on a high when she plays the women’s doubles final alongside Sara Errani on Sunday.
