“She must have been there in a previous life,” Mats Wilander in awe of Jasmine Paolini’s calmness in the Roland Garros semi-final

Jasmine Paolini is living a dream in Paris.

“She must have been there in a previous life,” Mats Wilander in awe of Jasmine Paolini’s calmness in the Roland Garros semi-final

Jasmine Paolini and Mats Wilander (via IMAGO/Clay)

12th seed Jasmine Paolini has won a lot of fans and gained the spotlight during her heroic Roland Garros campaign so far. In her first Grand Slam semi-final, she beat unseeded Russian Mirra Andreeva in straight sets to progress to her first Grand Slam final.

The biggest thing that has impressed the tennis world is that she’s not overawed by the occasion. On Eurosport, Mats Wilander discussed the Italian’s calmness throughout the match.

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Paolini had a great attitude throughout the match. The way she was playing, it must have felt like she must have been here in a previous life because she was so calm.
Mats Wilander said on Eurosport

Before the French Open, Paolini had never advanced beyond the fourth round at any Grand Slam singles event. The Italian’s best performance was at the 2024 Australian Open, where she lost in the Round of 16 to Anna Kalinskaya.

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Alongside her Andreeva win, Paolini has also beaten Elena Rybakina in three sets in the quarter-final. This victory, along with her current form, might boost Paolini’s confidence for Saturday’s final against Iga Swiatek.

Jasmine Paolini makes history by progressing to her first Roland Garros final

Jasmine Paolini earned her spot in the French Open final with an impressive 6-3, 6-1 win over rising star Mirra Andreeva, marking a significant achievement for Italian tennis.

Jasmine Paolini
Jasmine Paolini (via Imago)

At 28, Paolini is the first Italian woman to reach the Roland Garros final since Sara Errani in 2012. Her success adds to the notable performances by Italians at this year’s tournament, including Jannik Sinner’s advance to the men’s semifinals and becoming World No.1.

Although Andreeva had previously defeated Paolini in Madrid earlier this year, the young Russian couldn’t find her rhythm on Court Philippe Chatrier. The match began competitively, but the 28-year-old’s experience and tactical play soon gave her the edge. After securing a critical break at 3-1, Paolini demonstrated her resilience by saving three break points. She kept her composure, saving two more break points in the seventh game before winning the first set.

In the second set, Paolini maintained her dominance by breaking Andreeva’s serve early and controlling the pace with aggressive groundstrokes. The teenager, struggling with the pressure and Paolini’s relentless play, couldn’t mount a comeback. The match ended with the Italian securing her historic victory with a powerful forehand winner.

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