Italian tennis star Jasmine Paolini recently confessed that it is hard for her to name a celebrity she’d like to see courtside at her matches. But there is one name that stands out in her mind, which is none other than the great Roger Federer.
Despite admiring the Swiss legend, Paolini knows she would get incredibly nervous if Federer were to watch her play in person.
Jasmine’s team @rogerfederer pic.twitter.com/JOUdVzhvYX
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) July 16, 2024
Federer has had a significant influence on the Wimbledon 2024 finalist’s career and life. Known for his grace on and off the court, he has been a role model for many young tennis players, including Paolini.
In fact, after her recent loss to Barbora Krejcikova, Paolini spoke about passionately supporting the 20-time men’s singles Grand Slam champion as a child especially when she watched the tournament on television.
“I was looking at the TV as a kid, looking at the finals, cheering for Federer I have to say. To be here now, it’s crazy and I think I enjoyed every moment here,” Paolini was quoted as saying in the post-match press conference.
In an interview with Vogue after Wimbledon, Paolini stated that she grew up feasting on the Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal rivalry. And this is why those two superstars are her favorites.
While Federer has not publicly commented on Paolini’s performances, his indirect impact is evident. Paolini has impressed many with her precision and composure on court, traits which the Swiss legend was renowned for.
Recently, Paolini made headlines by emulating one of Federer’s remarkable achievements. She reached the finals of both Wimbledon and Roland Garros back-to-back in the same season, which proves her versatility and determination.
Federer achieved the same in 2006 when he was aged 24. The only difference was that he won Wimbledon that year, despite losing the French Open final to Nadal.
Paolini’s path to back-to-back Grand Slam finals has not been easy, but her dedication and hard work have paid off. It seems that the Italian youngster drew a lot of inspiration not just from the likes of Federer, but also her own success such as at Dubai this year, where she won a WTA 1000 title for the first time in her career.
The win was a breakout one clearly for Paolini, who clinched her second WTA title and has not looked back since then. With impressive performances on all surfaces this year, she would come into the Olympics as well as the North American swing as one of the favorites.
