PORSCHE TENNIS GRAND PRIX

April 18, 2024

Jasmine Paolini

Press Conference

J. PAOLINI/O. Jabeur

7-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Jasmine, a great win for you. How excited are you for to be in the quarterfinals here in Stuttgart?

JASMINE PAOLINI: A lot. Today was a really good match, I think. I really enjoyed.

It's great to play here in front of, you know, a lot of people. Yeah, it's a really nice tournament.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Congrats. It's your first top-10 win in this tournament, if I'm right. How were your expectations before the start of the tournament?

JASMINE PAOLINI: You know, I played a really good first round, so I was, you know, confident. But also, at the same time, it's not easy to play against Ons. I already lost two times with her.

I was focusing on my game, and I knew what expect from her, because I know her a little bit better. You know, I played two times against her, so I was focusing on myself. I think I serve well, but also I return well.

Yeah, I think that was the key of the match, but was not easy to play against her, of course. I tried to stay focused and, yeah, to enjoy the match.

Q. I think you have obviously got better in the last 12 months, in particular. Which part of your game, Jasmine, do you think you have improved most?

JASMINE PAOLINI: I don't know. Maybe the serve. Yeah, I think today also I served well. Indoor it's a little bit different, a little bit easier to serve, but I think I improve a little bit of everything.

Yeah, but as I said after the first round, I believe more in myself so I can step on court and, you know, try to win every match.

Before, I was, like, this match I cannot win. I was stepping on the court, I was playing well, but not enough (smiling), not enough belief.

Yeah, today I did differently before last two matches against Ons because I was believing that I could win. I could also lose, of course, but I could win (smiling).

Q. Do you like play more singles or doubles or both?

JASMINE PAOLINI: Now both. Before, singles, for sure. Yeah, I like to play singles, but now I like also to play doubles. I think it's nice, it's funny, but you have to find the good partner to play with.

It's a little bit different, you know, but I think it helps a lot to improve serve, return, and volleys, of course.

Yeah, it's something different, but I like it, yeah.

Q. You have Elena next. You lost to her in Rome last year. A super-tight first set, and then a 6-1 second. What can you take from that match? And also the confidence you have now maybe compared to a year ago, you can maybe use that?

JASMINE PAOLINI: It's going to be tough with Elena. She serve unbelievable. She play unbelievable.

So I think I have to serve well, to try to play deep and to try to move her, to don't let her too much, you know, to move me, because I have to try to control as many points as I can, but it's not going to be easy.

She's one of the best players in the world, and she usually, you know, makes the game, you know. She serve well, she return well.

So let's see. I'm going to fight every point and try to, as I said, to play deep and to serve well. But, yeah, we have to see how the match is going to be.

Q. Doubles you play here with Sara. Can we say that this, like, combination, it's fixed for Olympics?

JASMINE PAOLINI: Yes, we can say that (smiling). We try to play in the Olympics. Hopefully we can get in.

Yesterday was not really one of the best matches that we played together, but it's not easy to play, you know, with no ad and super-tiebreak sometimes. It's just a few points, if you lose some killer points, then you lose the match.

Yeah, that's doubles. Yeah, we have to try to make better next week. We are trying to play Madrid, Rome, and Paris to prepare, you know, the Olympics, to try to play there, yeah.