Jasmine Paolini expressed her hesitation to “dream too much” following her recent defeat in the Wimbledon final to Barbora Krejcikova, shortly after her loss at the French Open final.
Despite a valiant comeback to tie the match against Krejcikova, Paolini ultimately lost 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. This loss echoed her previous final at Roland Garros, where she won only three games against the world number one, Iga Swiatek.
Paolini, the first Italian woman to compete in a Wimbledon singles final, has seen a significant climb in her career, from never passing the second round in a Grand Slam to reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open earlier this year. Expected to rise to fifth in the world rankings next week, she remains optimistic about her future in tennis despite the recent setbacks.
“I’m a bit scared to dream too much,” Paolini admitted. “I’m focusing on staying present and maintaining this level of play with my team. If I manage that, I believe great achievements are still ahead.”
While today’s match left her bittersweet, Paolini is trying to appreciate her current standing. “I dreamed of winning today, but it wasn’t to be,” she reflected. “Nonetheless, reaching two Grand Slam finals is incredible, and while there’s some disappointment, I’m also immensely proud of what I’ve achieved.”
