The facts convey that the women’s circuit is gradually shaping a new status, smoothing out the ups and downs of recent years and proposing a new, more stable landscape in which the trident formed by Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff exercises strongly and is difference week to week. They rule, especially the first two, and the rest slipstream, scratching what they can; maybe Rybakina, maybe Jabeur, occasionally Pegula, Sakkari, Collins or Vondrousova. There is pecking, but the Pole (23 years old), the Belarusian (26) and the American (20) are making progress and standing out, especially in the field of the greats. From one year here, the list of champions: Swiatek (Paris), Vondrousova (Wimbledon), Gauff (US Open) and Sabalenka (Australian Open).
It happens, however, that despite the emerging power and the new appearance of the podium, extraordinary events continue to happen, this last one at Roland Garros. Few, except for those who follow them in depth, will have heard of Jasmine Paolini, a tennis player who at 28 years old has been completing a meritorious course in the shadows until she stalks the top-10, a space that you now discover. His record reflects a couple of titles – one very discreet in Portoroz and another of much more importance in Dubai, this year – and his career until now expressed an insignificant career on clay. He had never made it past the second round at the Bois de Boulogne nor had he won six matches in a row on clay. However, he is there.
“Dreaming is the most important thing,” she says after having defeated the very young Mirra Andreeva (17) in 73 minutes (6-3 and 6-1) and having reached the final of a tournament for the first time. major, following in the footsteps of her compatriots Francesca Schiavone (champion in 2010 and finalist in 2011) and her doubles partner, Sara Errani (runner-up in 2012). “Dreaming is the most important thing in sport and in life, and I had dreamed of this moment, which came to me later than to other girls,” continues the player, born in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, region of Tuscany. And so it is. It is a late appearance, in keeping with the excellent moment that Italian tennis is experiencing.
Jannik Sinner shines at the top among the boys, and his country boasts of the flight acquired lately; New young talents proliferate among the olive trees, the pasta, all the history and the monuments (Musetti, Arnaldi, Sonego, Cobolli…), and they claim themselves based on competitiveness – final in the last Billie Jean King Cup – and the pride of the Cocciaretto (23), Bronzetti (25), Trevisan (30) and even the veteran Errani (37). Now, no one was counting on Paolini, now seventh in the world and also challenging because of the format; her height of 1.63 – according to the WTA; 1.60 of hers has ever escaped her—it represents an anomaly in a modernity in which professional women tend more to be 1.80 than anything else. The era of the towers.
“Of course I would like to be taller, but I accept myself as I am,” she says, while Swiatek waits for Saturday’s outcome (3:00 p.m.), sharpening the scythe. Unapproachable, the number one has previously gotten rid of Gauff (6-2 and 6-4, in 1h 37m) and looks immense, in her third consecutive final in Paris, the fourth since she appeared in the tournament in 2019 with the firm intention to appropriate it, as his idolized Rafael Nadal did. He follows in the wake left by such illustrious names as Evert, Navratilova, Graf, Seles, Arantxa, Henin and Sharapova, who also managed to play in three successive finals. Everything seems to lead back to her, but there are Paolini and her smile.
“He’s at his best, but I haven’t seen his games, so I can’t say much. “I will focus on myself,” says the Polish, three-time champion and very convinced. No doubt.
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