“Omg, I am so happy!” The clay courts of Roland Garros shimmered with anticipation, and the crowd held its breath. A jubilant celebration pierced the air, as Jasmine Paolini marked another milestone in her extraordinary journey at the French Open. Her remarkable run has ignited joy among her fans and garnered widespread appreciation from the tennis community, as she inches closer to the finals. This surge of victory has drawn admiration from across the tennis world, including from Rennae Stubbs, Serena Williams’ former coach, who has been fervently cheering for the Italian sensation.

Jasmine Paolini faced Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina in a nail-biting match. Despite being the underdog, ranked more than ten spots below Rybakina in the WTA rankings before the match, Paolini defied the odds. In a gripping contest, the 28-year-old clinched victory in the third set, winning 6-2, 4-6, 6-4. This win not only delighted her fans but also impressed Rennae Stubbs, a long-time admirer of Paolini.

Stubbs expressed her excitement on X, congratulating Paolini with heartfelt enthusiasm. “Omg I am SO happy for Jasmine Paolini! She’s literally one of my favorite players and has been forever!” she exclaimed. Stubbs further emphasized her consistent admiration for Paolini, mentioning her frequent praise on her podcast and in person. “She’s such a great player and ALWAYS & I mean ALWAYS in a good mood! Congrats kiddo!” Stubbs added.

Jasmine Paolini has been enjoying a standout season. She claimed victory in the Women’s Doubles at the Italian Open alongside compatriot Sara Errani and secured her first WTA 1000 title in Dubai earlier this year. Stubbs has consistently shown support for Paolini, lauding her talent and skills. Following Paolini’s win in Dubai, Stubbs tweeted, “If anyone has listened to my pod (podcast) over the years, you know how much I have loved Jasmine Paolini’s tennis! I have said on many occasions that she’s literally one of my favorite players to watch on tour!”

Meanwhile, the Italian star is all set to play in the French Open semi-final for the first time.

First Grand Slam Semi-Final for Jasmine Paolini

Jasmine Paolini made her WTA Tour debut in 2015, but 2024 has undoubtedly been her breakthrough year. Earlier this season, she reached her highest round in the Australian Open, reaching the fourth round. Now, for the first time, she will compete in a Grand Slam semi-final at Roland Garros. 

“It’s an incredible feeling, it was a really tough match. In the second set I got a bit emotional: I said to myself, okay, she’s a champion and it can happen. Then I went back there to hit every ball and here I am. I tried to always stay in the exchange, to forget what happened in the second set, these things can happen, tennis is like that and you have to accept it. The important thing was then to get back to fighting,” she said in an on-court interview after beating Rybakina.

She further added, “Thank you all, it was the first time I played on this beautiful court, it’s a joy and a privilege and I’m happy to have won in my first match because it’s one of the most beautiful pitches in the world.”

Despite five previous appearances at the French Open, Paolini had never advanced past the second round until now. She will face Russian Mirra Andreeva, who just beat Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals at Court Philippe Chatrier.

With Paolini’s impressive performance, Italy will have two representatives in the semi-finals of this Grand Slam, including Jannik Sinner. Paolini’s journey to the semi-finals not only marks a personal milestone but also signifies a proud moment for Italian tennis. As she prepares for her next match, fans and tennis veterans’ support will definitely be crucial for the Italian sensation!