THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 6, 2026

Jasmine Paolini

Press Conference

J. PAOLINI/A. Eala

6-4, 4-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Jasmine, give us some thoughts on the match.

JASMINE PAOLINI: Yeah, was a tough match. Alex, she's a really tough opponent, especially here on grass. I think her game, it's perfect here. So was tough, tough battle. I'm happy that I make it through.

But yeah, I think was a good match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Obviously you said her game is perfect for grass. In Dubai you played and lost. What did you change tactically today that got you the win?

JASMINE PAOLINI: I think in Dubai I didn't approach the match so well. Was tough.

Today I had good energy. I think I was there every point. I knew that was a tough one. She's playing really well. She plays well also the important points. She has a lot of personality on court. I knew that.

I tried to play my best tennis and it worked out. So yeah, I'm happy.

Q. Your next opponent in quarterfinal will be Marta Kostyuk. How challenging will it be for you to play her in quarterfinal?

JASMINE PAOLINI: I think a lot. I think she's playing a great tennis this year. She improve a lot. She can be really aggressive. She's a great athlete. She can move really well on court.

It's going to be a tough, tough match. We have to prepare it well. We have to watch a little bit her game style here on grass.

But yeah, we are in the quarterfinals, so it's normal to have these kind of matches. Hopefully I can play a good tennis. Hopefully it's going to be a good match also for the people.

Q. It's obviously been a tough year in terms of results. You're having a great run here. What sort of clicked or changed for you?

JASMINE PAOLINI: I think even if I lost the first set 6-0, I was there trying to stay positive, was repeating to myself, Okay, can only go better than this.

I knew that the first round was a tough one, was a tough match, because Montgomery was playing really well on grass. I think it gave me confidence for the next matches. I think point by point I was feeling better. That's great.

I think also I approach those kind of matches in the positive way, in the right way. No matter the score, I'm there trying to play the next point as better as I can.

Q. Do you feel like you got that joy back on the court?

JASMINE PAOLINI: Here? Definitely, yes. I mean, I'm enjoying playing tennis. Of course, it's easier when you play well. But I think it's important to try to keep this mindset, even when things are tougher. You know what I mean?

So it's great to be back playing at this level and to enjoying playing tennis as well, as I did those matches.

Q. You gave a lot of credit to your opponent. How do you rate your own level of game? What has changed since the last few weeks?

JASMINE PAOLINI: Yeah, I think I played a really, really great match because it's tough to play Alex. She's there every point. You know what I mean? I think my intensity was there every point, basically.

I don't know what it change, but match by match I am feeling better. I feel more confidence in myself. I'm more positive, as well. Hopefully I can keep this mindset for the rest of the season. I think this mindset can really make me play better. That's going to be the goal.

You can lose, you can win, but the goal is to keep this mindset.

Q. (Question about breakthrough.)

JASMINE PAOLINI: I think in the last couple of season I did things quite well. Then this year was a little bit challenging because maybe I had - I don't know - too many expectations, or I lost two matches that I wasn't expect to lose, then some doubts came into my mind. You know what I mean?

But hopefully I can come back in the top 10. I want to do it. I hope I'm going to do it. Right now I'm focusing, of course, on the tournament. I have to focus on the tournament because we are playing Wimbledon.

At the same time I'm doing everything possible, as I said, to keep the level and to keep this mindset, then things can come or not. I think it's the right way to approach tennis.

Q. I remember two years ago when you made your first big run in a Grand Slam in Roland Garros, you told us something like, Months ago I didn't believe I could do this type of performance. Now that it's your third Grand Slam quarterfinal, do you consider that you belong there? If yes, when did the shift happen in your mind that you were able to do that on a regular basis?

JASMINE PAOLINI: I think, as I said before, if I had this mindset, if I believe in myself, then I can have the chance to play more tournaments like that.

I think what happen in this year was that I had too many doubts. You know what I mean? It was hard to believe sometimes.

But yeah, I think if I'm playing this level, if I have this mindset, I can have good opportunities to go deep in the tournaments. You know what I mean?

So trying to think positive, to stay there, to believe in myself. And then I don't know what is going to come, but I'm there ready to take matches, to take opportunities.

Q. You had good energy on court today. You're not playing doubles here. Do you feel a lot more energy, more refreshed maybe than you did earlier this year?

JASMINE PAOLINI: I don't know. This year I didn't play so many matches, so I don't think I were tired. I don't know.

But of course winning, I think, help you. That's I think not a rule, but almost, that winning matches helps you, gives you energy. Also playing in those kind of stadiums gives you, like, extra energy.

I feel good. Hopefully I can play another good match with a lot of energy because I will need it with Marta.