THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 4, 2026

Jasmine Paolini

Press Conference

J. PAOLINI/M. Sakkari

6-1, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Jasmine, another nice victory. If you could just talk us through the match today.

JASMINE PAOLINI: Yes. I think I played really well. Just a few mistakes. It was a really good match from my side.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Great win. Have you been following the upsets that have happened today on your side of the draw? And looking towards your next match with Alex Eala, how do you look at that?

JASMINE PAOLINI: I don't watch the draw. I know I'm going to play Eala. I saw a little bit the last game. You know, I think that the game of Eala's fits very well to grass. She show a great level also in Berlin. I think she's very dangerous player here.

Yeah, let's see how we are going to prepare the match. I played already her in Dubai this year. And I think it's going to be a tough one the next, because as I said, I think she can play really well here.

Q. It's great to see you playing like that out there today and seeming to enjoy the process of playing at that level again. I know it's not been the most straightforward few months for you. I just wonder how you have been feeling in the last few months and how you have managed to get your form back again?

JASMINE PAOLINI: Yes, I think I had a little bit of that in the last few months, and it didn't help me to express myself on court. I had to stop a little bit after Roland Garros to recover from an injury. I came here without too many expectation.

But I'm happy how I played those three matches, because they were, I think, tough matches. I managed to play well in the important points, today I did just few mistakes. And I was enjoying myself on court. It's a great feeling, you know, when you are a tennis player and you play like that.

Q. A friend said you reminded her of Evonne Goolagong. Do you take into consideration players like that who played from the past?

JASMINE PAOLINI: I think I try to play with the joy. When I don't do that, my game, it's struggling a little bit. But it's not easy, you know, every time to enjoy yourself on court. I think the key today, but also the last two matches, was to be positive no matter the score.

You know, point by point, game by game, be more confident in my game. That feeling, I think, to be always there, to be always focused no matter the score, makes me more, let's say, relaxed on court and more also lucid on what I have to do on tactics and on my forehand and backhand.

The word didn't came to my mind, but that's I think the point.

Q. You're not playing doubles. You pulled out. Was it a precaution because of injury or...

JASMINE PAOLINI: I needed one more day to recover. You know, last couple of months has been tough with the foot. My body was struggling a little bit. So we speak, we talk a little bit yesterday with my team, with Sara, and that was the best decision.

It was tough, because I care a lot about doubles, but was the best decision for today.

Q. A question about crowd attention. When players are going like this and like this to get the crowd involved after a point, is that a strategy that you use? How do you feel about it?

JASMINE PAOLINI: I think, you know, I think it's nice to have some people that do that and some that don't. You know, I think I like when there are different players around, I think it's really nice. I think people also need a little bit of this sometimes, you know, to get involved into the match.

It's something that I like, not like when it's too much, but I think it's something great for the people, for the sport. And sometimes also the player, I think, needs to do that. You know, when you are more nervous, it can come out, and you don't think in this moment.

But it's nice to have different players around, as well, that behave in different way.

Q. I know you played her in Dubai, and it was a really crazy match because of the crowd factor. I'm sure you remember. In terms of preparing for her next round, how much value do you put into that match in terms of - I know it's a different surface - but how much in terms of research or preparation do you put into that match? Are you the type of player who likes to look back at old matches against former opponents?

JASMINE PAOLINI: Yeah, I think it's good that I already played against her once. But here, it's another surface, even if Dubai was really quick.

I think I'm going to watch some matches here, because, you know, it's already, like, five, six months ago. She's playing great. She has a huge crowd with her. Now on the bridge they were screaming "Alex, Alex." It's so good for our sport, I think, also to involve more people around the world.

Yeah, I think she's, like, a star of our sport, you know. It's going to be a tough battle. The crowd, it's going to be there every point. But that's sport. I really enjoying also to play in those kind of situation, and hopefully many Italians will be there as well, honestly. (Smiling.)