Jasmine Paolini has discovered a newfound glory at Wimbledon. Entering two Grand Slam finals one after another, Paolini has shown fantastic tennis. Proud of the multicultural lineage that she received from her mother, Paolini has shown why she insists on relying on her Polish and Ghanaian attributes and how they help her incredible performance.

Paolini impressed all after beating Donna Vekic in the semifinals by 2-6, 6-4, 7(10)-6(8). Her incredible run at the British Slam drew much attention to her mother, Jacqueline. Born in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana of Tuscany in Central Italy, Jasmine received an upbringing that was enriched by Jacqueline’s Ghanaian and Polish heritage, having a vibrant tapestry of cultures. This multicultural environment has fostered a unique and multifaceted identity in Jasmine, which she embraces with pride. 

Jacqueline and Ugo, who is Italian, met and married swiftly in Tuscany. Jacqueline, originally from Poland, relocated to Italy post-graduation to work in a local restaurant. Jasmine shares a close bond with her mother, whose unwavering support is a constant presence in the players’ box. The WTA star proudly admits that she inherited her bubbly personality from her mother, and she likes this fact.

In an interview during the 2024 Indian Wells, Paolini said, “Yes, I think my mom is like this. She’s smiling a lot and it’s part of me. I’m smiling always. I really like this part of myself.” In the same interview, she talked about the pride she felt in having a multicultural identity. “Ghanaian, maybe I feel like I’m fast on court. And I think that part of my family helped me. Maybe from Poland, I have the determination, maybe. But of course I also have the Italian energy (laughs). It’s a mix. And I’m really proud of it,” she said.

Not many would know that Jasmine’s maternal grandmother is Polish while her maternal grandfather is Ghanaian and lives in Copenhagen, Denmark. Jasmine has a younger brother named William. And yes, Jasmine does speak Polish.

She revealed during a press conference at the 2024 French Open that when she was young, her mother communicated with her in Polish to get her acquainted with the language. “When I was young [my mother] was speaking to me in Polish. Now I can speak Polish,” she told WTA Insider. Paolini has received immense support from her family due to her journey in the sport. While her uncle inspired her to take up tennis, Paolini’s parents equally contributed to her enthusiasm for the sport.

Paolini feels “grateful to have” her parents with her in Wimbledon

Jasmine’s childhood was a blend of her mother’s Polish hometown, Łódź, and Bagni di Lucca, Italy, where her father owned a bar. Introduced to tennis by her father and uncle Adriano(at a tender age of 5), it was the latter who first brought her onto the Bagni di Lucca courts. Jasmine credits her parents for her athletic pursuits, recalling their encouragement to specialize in a single sport. Their influence, coupled with her uncle’s tennis involvement, led to her choice of the racket over the swimming pool.

In a press conference in March 2022, Paolini spoke about how tennis came into her life. “I remember that my father and my mother told me, you have to choose one sport to do. In Bagni Di Lucca there was all tennis or a swimming pool and because of my uncle who was playing tennis, I decided to go to play,” she said.

Despite drawing her interest from her uncle, Paolini spoke about how her parents have been supportive from day 1. She also dedicated her W100 Les Franqueses del Valles trophy to her mother for he unconditional support. Paolini’s mother has also been an incredible cheerleader for her daughter, and she has constantly supported her daughter from the stands. “I think it’s not easy for the family to watch a match like this. It was a rollercoaster of emotions. I’m so grateful they were here. They’ve been supporting me forever,” Paolini said.

Jacqueline Paolini has been an integral part of the WTA star’s multicultural identity. Following her entry to the finals, people think she might finally fulfill her Grand Slam dream, relying on the multicultural traits that she received from her mother. Jasmine’s deep-rooted love for tennis has fostered a strong sense of community at her local club, and she will proudly represent Italy in the upcoming Olympics.