DUBAI DUTY FREE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

February 21, 2024

Jasmine Paolini

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium

Press Conference

J. PAOLINI/M. Sakkari

6-4, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Jasmine, congratulations on your great win today. Into the quarterfinals. Give us your thoughts on your performance today.

JASMINE PAOLINI: I think I played a really solid match. I was really focused. Yeah, I try to push Maria, to try to hit winners to make their pressure. I think it works pretty well.

Yeah, I'm happy.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. It's a fast court here in Dubai. You're handling that pace very well. Are you surprised at all or do you like the speed of the court?

JASMINE PAOLINI: No, I like. I remember the first time I came here. For me was too fast. Was really fast. I couldn't play. I couldn't believe that I can play here.

But now I like fast courts. I feel well here. It's not easy because also it's windy. Yeah, I'm happy how I adapt.

Q. How has your game changed to where you now say you like a fast court?

JASMINE PAOLINI: I think I serve a little bit better than in the past. But also I believe now that I can play on fast courts. That's the most important thing. Before I was like I cannot play on fast courts.

Yeah, the first thing I think I improve is to believe, yeah.

Q. You won 27 games on a hard court surface now this year. Is that one of your favorite surfaces now?

JASMINE PAOLINI: Yeah, I think I like also clay. Most of the tournaments are on hard courts, so you have to adapt. You play lot of tournaments on hard. I don't remember my last match on clay, but I like both. I think I can play good on both.

Yeah, it doesn't make huge difference for me now. In the past was huge difference. Now it's okay.

Q. Your second win over top competition in the last week. How do you feel about your game now and your confidence?

JASMINE PAOLINI: Yeah, I feel really confident. I just don't think about my opponent ranking. I just think about what I have to do on the court. Yeah, today it work pretty well. Also the last couple of matches. Leylah, I think she's a huge player as well. It's not easy to play against her.

But, yeah, I'm really confident. Looking forward to the next match.

Q. Are you surprised to see Maria, Sabalenka out? Does that give you confidence you can go all the way?

JASMINE PAOLINI: I don't know. Next match, it's going to be tough. It's going to be Elena or Magdalena. I'm thinking about the next match because it's going to be huge opponent or opponent who is growing up fast. Magdalena is I think on her best ranking.

We are in the quarterfinal, so I think it's normal, yeah.

Q. I'm curious, where were you and did you watch Jannik win the Australian Open?

JASMINE PAOLINI: I was in Linz. It's amazing what he is doing for our sport I think worldwide, but especially in Italy. I think more kids are going to play tennis in the next years. He's I think a huge example, big person, big champion as well.

It's kind of perfect person to have on top for the tennis I think, yeah.

Q. In terms of Italian tennis, obviously we had the golden generation with Flavia and Roberta and Sara and Francesca. Now Matteo and Jannik. Where do you see yourself, Elisabetta, everybody trying to catch up a little bit?

JASMINE PAOLINI: I think at the beginning they were comparing us to the old generation, but now they are focusing more on men tennis, which is good because we don't have any kind of bad pressure (laughter).

I think what the guys are doing, it's amazing also for us because they are pushing us in a way. It's nice to also have more attention on our sport, especially in our country. Soccer is soccer for Italian population. Now there's also tennis (smiling).

It's nice. It's going to be I think this year in Rome really busy and really nice tournament, yeah.

Q. It's normally calm in Rome...

JASMINE PAOLINI: This year I think it's going to be crazy with Jannik. Unbelievable.