As a Golden State Warriors fan, it’s pretty much been an obligation to root against Chris Paul. During his time with the Clippers and Rockets he annoyingly went to battle against the Warriors for years. As tenacious as he was smug, Paul often brought the ire and indignation of Dub Nation upon himself. The first time I saw him touch the ball in a Warriors uniform last year, I innately booed at the television. Old habits die hard, but I'm confident I wasn’t alone. However, bias aside and despite not having an NBA title, Paul should be an easy first ballot Hall of Famer.
On a 2023 Rich Roll podcast, Paul was spittin' when he waxed about his concept of “stacking days.” The idea of showing up everyday and doing the hard work consistently. And that stacking days over time leads to changes and improvement that drives success. Paul ends the segment referencing a coach who once said, “Everything you want is on the other side of hard.”
In the storied 2024 landscape of women's tennis, a field defined by power and pedigree, Jasmine Paolini emerged not as a typical force of blunt might, but as a symphony of positive energy, a hot bowl of (your favorite) soup for the soul of women’s tennis. A player quietly waiting for her moment after consistently stacking days since turning pro in 2011.
For the past few years, I’ve been one of the few eagerly awaiting the realization of her potential—a compact powerhouse with an at times disrespectful forehand, simmering on the back burner amongst a field of titans. To many, she might have seemed like an underdog, but as I wrote in January, it was only a matter of time before Jasmine Paolini would have her “day(s) in the sun.” Her success this season, the culmination of hard work and quiet courage, bonded together by a newfound confidence, was inevitable if you were paying attention.
In January, Paolini entered the season with a 250 singles title on her resume, and a world #30 ranking built on momentum from the 2023 season. In March, Paolini would arrive emphatically, capturing her first WTA 1000 title at the Duty Free Championships in Dubai where she earned a three set victory over Anna Kalinskaya in the final. Feeling validated, I continued yelling from the rooftops to anyone in my tennis circle who’d listen, “If you don’t know, now you know.”
In Dubai, Paolini would just be getting started. Her season would become a journey of excellence, a steady excess of expectations. Alongside her friend and compatriot Sara Errani, she claimed another WTA 1000 in Rome—this time in doubles. The victory, captured on home soil, would feed an already boasting confidence, partially enabled by the time, mentorship, and play in tandem with Errani. Her ascension reminiscent of the heights reached by Francesca Schiavone and Flavia Pennetta before her. But Paolini wouldn’t follow the trail of her predecessors, she would blaze one of her own, reigniting vigor for the sport in Italy, keeping pace with the headlines being made by countryman Jannik Sinner throughout the year.
The story continued in Paris, where Paolini, whose game is native to Europe’s red clay courts, reached the finals in both singles and doubles (again with Sara Errani) at the French Open. And though she’d fall shy in both finals, Paolini would build on the momentum, and return to Roland Garros later in the summer to make history.
Far from disheartened, her infectious personality showcased a player determined to leave her mark. And a growing legion of fans started to realize what was always there—an understated, but unyielding force, inspiring and entertaining crowds with her play and positivity.
In July at Wimbledon, a tournament previously unkind to Paolini, she would break down another wall, shattering a long-standing drought at SW19 by artfully navigating her way through the draw to become the first Italian woman to ever appear in the final on Centre Court.
Her path to the Wimbledon final was as remarkable as it was intense, defined by several unforgettable matches, including an epic semifinal against Donna Vekic, which unquestionably should be included in any “2024 Match of the Year” conversations. Paolini clinched victory in the longest women’s semifinal in Wimbledon history, overcoming Vekic, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (8).
In the Wimbledon final, Barbora Krejcikova would best Paolini in three sets, however, Paolini left no doubts about her presence. With back-to-back finals appearances at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, she’d cement her name in tennis history alongside the likes of Serena Williams, Steffi Graf, and Justine Henin. The performance at Wimbledon was enough to define a career for some players, but even in Grand Slam defeat, her story was still unfinished.
In their return to Roland Garros over the summer, Paolini and Errani would meticulously work their way through the Olympic field and deliver Italy its first Olympic gold medal in doubles, a feat as meaningful as it was iconic. Hardly a consolation for the Grand Slam losses—the gold medal performance would be another historic achievement, punctuating the evolutionary nature of Paolini’s year. For good measure, the duo added another 1000 doubles title in Beijing last month.
This season, Jasmine Paolini has played with a calm self-assurance, rooted in years of perseverance that have prepared her for these moments. In an arena brimming with confident, high profile personalities, her presence is refreshingly authentic—a steady journey to self-belief, not defined by fanfare, but by large and small victories alike, each leading her toward a dream both humble and profound.
This weekend, Paolini makes her maiden appearance at the WTA Finals (in singles and doubles with Errani) in Riyadh where she is currently ranked number four in the world. Next season, she’ll be faced with the challenges of sustaining her high level of play from 2024, defending a ton of Grand Slam points, and staying healthy in order to remain there for an extended period of time.
But for now, it’s not about where she’s been, it’s about where she’s at. Paolini’s status in tennis is not just a recognition of her talent, but an acknowledgment of a deserved place among the elite in women’s tennis. The reward and payoff (literally, earning more than $5M+ on the court alone this year) for all the days stacked since turning pro in 2011.
In an interview with Vogue Italy, Paolini was asked to describe herself in three words. “Determined. Fighter. Dreamer.” she replied, succinctly capturing the essence of her personality. True to her words, Paolini crafted more than just a season to remember; in defeat and victory, she embodied everything we love about the game.
As a fan, Jasmine Paolini has given me a lot to cheer about this year. As a writer, I've stacked a lot of days on my Macbook doing the hard but exciting work to find the right words to articulate her season in a way that does it justice.
She reminded us that the most compelling stories are those that unfold with grace and patience, and persistence over time. And of the success yielded by way of stacking days and having love for the game. Jasmine Paolini unlocked the power that blossoms and thrives on the other side of hard work, and embraced the power that exists in each of us when we believe in ourselves.
-WD
(Photo: WTA)