INTERNAZIONALI BNL D'ITALIA

May 9, 2026

Jasmine Paolini

Press Conference

E. MERTENS/J. Paolini

4-6, 7-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Jasmine, not the result you wanted. What do you think made the difference?

JASMINE PAOLINI: Yes, it's a tough loss, especially because of the score, how it was. But she's a great player. She's solid. I think she played very well in the important points. Me, I could be a little bit more smart sometimes.

So it's tough, but it's tennis and can happen.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Maybe not been the easiest period, but coming here as well, is that even tougher because this is a tournament you love so much?

JASMINE PAOLINI: I think today I was feeling good. I played so-and-so the match points, especially the third one. Unfortunately it's tennis and can happen.

It's tough to, I don't know, get through this lose because I'm in Italy. I want to play more matches. I wanted to play more matches. It's nice to play in front of this crowd. They give me energy.

But today wasn't enough, I mean, from my side for the people.

Q. How do you feel looking ahead to Roland Garros now?

JASMINE PAOLINI: I think last couple of tournaments I was playing better. This tournament I was feeling good. I think I have to be more, let's say, solid on the important points, to play better those kind of points.

The first round here, a lot of up and downs. Today, as well. Have to try to be there every point. When I have the chance, to take it.

I think right now sometimes I take the chance, sometimes not. At the high level of tennis, one match you can win, the second one maybe the opponent will win.

Have to be more consistent in those kind of points.

Q. You said Elise is a tough opponent for you. You've lost to her five times going back to juniors. What is it about her game that you find particularly tough?

JASMINE PAOLINI: I think she's very solid. You have to play always one more ball. She has very good hand when she defends. Her serve, also it's very good.

You have to play well to beat her I think from the start until the end of the match. Yeah, I'm sad because I was playing well. In that moment of the match, in the important points, as I said, I wasn't that solid, that brave as well.

At the end of the day, yeah, at this level you pay it.

Q. You said you felt good today and felt good practicing. Are you frustrated with your results this year? Do you feel big results are around the corner?

JASMINE PAOLINI: Yeah, I mean, I'm not really happy about my results, of course. I think I have to try to be more positive and to look forward to the next tournaments. I think it's getting better and feeling better, feeling more positive on court. That's important.

Today with a tough opponent I was competitive. I stayed there. I mean, I managed to play my game. That's important to me.

We have to adjust few things - I know that - to win these kind of matches. It's getting better. This is important to me.

Q. How different do you feel your level is now compared to two years ago? Do you feel you're playing as well and the results aren't coming?

JASMINE PAOLINI: I don't know. Two years ago I did here first round, then I did final in Roland Garros. So tennis is like that. Is the positive and the negative things sometimes.

I know that I have to stay there every tournament. I know that I have to put quality on the court, off the court, practicing, in the gym, then to be more lucid in important points. I think also putting more matches, the high-quality matches, help you in those kind of moments.

But I think we are going in the right direction. As I said, I'm feeling better. That's important. Tennis is like that: sometimes goes well, sometimes not. The important thing to me, it's stay there, believe it, take the chance. To take the chance, you have to stay there and believe.