Jasmine Paolini has taken this season’s French Open by storm with her back-to-back stellar performances on the Parisian clay. After outclassing some of the biggest names, including the fourth-seeded Elena Rybakina, the Italian tennis star has now reached her first Grand Slam semifinal. However, the 28-year-old player’s phenomenal success in a major tournament isn’t the fruit of her labor alone.

Toiling behind Paolini during her Roland Garros campaign has been her coach, Renzo Furlan, who teamed up with the WTA player all the way back in 2015. Furlan also has a tennis background, as he is a former tennis player from Italy who made his debut on the men’s tour in 1988. While attaining his highest ATP singles ranking of World No. 19, the tennis veteran also secured a quarterfinal Grand Slam finish at the 1995 French Open.

During his campaign, Furlan outclassed the likes of Marcos Ondruska, David Rikl, and Fernando Meligeni to mark his best performance at a major tournament. Aside from this, the former Italian tennis pro also represented his country at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona and the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, where he managed to reach the quarterfinal round. Given Furlan’s impressive tennis background, Paolini has certainly assembled an incredible coaching staff.

Speaking about her partnership, the Italian WTA player recently opened up about how she is really ‘enjoying’ the process under her compatriot’s tutelage.

“I think we are a good team”– Jasmine Paolini on her coaching relationship with Renzo Furlan

In an interview with the BNP Paribas Open, the current number 15 player was asked if she ever had any conversation with her coach regarding surpassing him in his highest singles ranking of 19. Paolini answered by saying, “I never said that but I was thinking, ‘Come on, I have to do better (smiles).’ And he was so happy that I managed to be better than him in the rankings.” The Italian tennis sensation also commented on her coaching partnership with Renzo Furlan, saying that they are a “good team.”

“I think we are a good team. We have already been together seven years. I really love the relationship we have, and we feel good. We are relaxed people so I’m really enjoying it, without any pressure,” Paolini said. The French Open semifinalist also opened up about how she is always trying to keep “improving and improving” under the tutelage of her coach.

Do you think that Jasmine Paolini can clinch her maiden Grand Slam title under the tutelage of her compatriot? Let us know in the comments section.