“It has to be big because I’m so small,” is what Jasmine Paolini had to say when Mats Wilander made a lighthearted joke about her short height. The Italian WTA star has had an amazing season despite being shorter than the other top-ranked competitors. However, despite her tremendous achievements, social media platforms have been giving her a difficult time with fans trolling her because of her height. Although she generally takes it lightly without seeing it as a disrespect, Serena Williams‘ ex-coach couldn’t stop herself from stepping forward to the player’s defense.

Serena Williams’ former coach, Rennae Stubbs, recently spoke out against critics who underestimate Jasmine Paolini because of her height. In a recent episode of the Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, she shared a conversation she had with a fan on Twitter. The follower questioned how Paolini, standing at just 5’4″, could beat taller players like Elena Rybakina. Stubbs passionately defended Paolini, saying, “And to all, Sabalenka just broke back. Pauline, but Paolini, there was something that was said on Twitter the other day from I think it was maybe someday, somebody who writes to me quite often, how can Paolini so little beat someone like Rybakina? I’m like, dude. I’m like, Have you seen her play tennis? She’s so good. She doesn’t have a weakness.”

Many believe her 5’4″ frame gives her a disadvantage in areas like serving and reaching for high balls, where taller players stand at an advantage. Players like Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka, who stand around 6 feet, have a natural edge in power and reach. However, Paolini has defied these expectations throughout her career. She has used her strengths to prove that height is not a deciding factor in her success. This year, her efforts created highlights as she broke into the line of one of the top players on the WTA Tour.

Paolini’s 2024 season has been nothing short of extraordinary. She kicked off the year with a bang by winning the prestigious WTA 1000 event in Dubai which helped her make her way into the top 10 for the first time in her career. Her Grand Slam performances further strengthened her place among the world’s top players. She reached her first-ever Grand Slam final at the French Open, where she faced World No. 1 Iga Świątek. Paolini then followed this with a historic run to the Wimbledon final and became the first Italian woman to reach back-to-back Grand Slam finals since Francesca Schiavone.

When Jasmine Paolini made a wish to be taller

Jasmine Paolini has never shied away from discussing the challenges her height presents on the tennis court. She is one of the shortest players on the WTA Tour which stands to be a fact that often draws comparisons to tennis legend Billie Jean King, who stood only an inch taller. While taller players tend to have a natural advantage in terms of power and reach, Paolini has learned to focus on her strengths and adapt her game to compensate. In an interview with Tennis Actu TV, she acknowledged the desire for a taller frame, saying, “I wish I was taller because I could serve better, but I think I accept that I have to do it with my own body.”

Instead of letting her height become a hindrance, Paolini has worked hard to improve other areas of her game, particularly her serve. She explained, “We try to not make it a problem. We try to do something different to improve other aspects like serve. I wish I was taller, but it’s OK, I am not. So we have to do with what I have.” This unique approach has paid off for Paolini, despite the short height. The Italian WTA star is now battling against the top-ranked rivals at the WTA year-end finals in Riyadh. Although she faced a defeat against Aryna Sabalenka after moving past Elena Rybakina, the doubles dominance is still on.