Inspiration
Up to this year, Italian tennis star Jasmine Paolini was ranked 42nd in the world, had a 4-16 record in Grand Slam tournaments, and was winless on grass. This year, she is 15-3 in Grand Slams, ranked 5th in the world, and the first woman since Serena Williams (2016) to reach the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon.
What has changed for Paolini? Her belief in her ability to compete, augmented by her effective use of self-talk. Consider these examples:
- Despite being winless on grass, "I was repeating to myself, It's nice to play on grass, you can play well on grass."
- When facing Emily Navarro (whom she had never defeated) in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, "I was repeating to myself, it's a different match; it's a different surface."
- During her semifinal victory over Donna Vekic, "I was repeating to myself, to fight for every ball, to improve a little bit," and "I was repeating to myself, try, point by point"
Paolini's attitude and gratitude have endeared her to fans. Her smile and joy are readily evident. While many players talk about the grind, she says, "I enjoy the moment, I love playing tennis." Listed generously at 5'4", Paolini routinely faces players six to eight
inches taller than she is. Taking a pragmatic approach, she says,
"Height is not everything. . . Like everything, there are pros and
cons." In her case, it is her seemingly endless energy and agility that
allow her to chase down balls all over the court.
Even after falling short in the Wimbledon final, Paolini commented, "I try to keep smiling because I have to remember today is still a good day, I'm in the final at Wimbledon." With such an outlook, coupled with growing confidence, Paolini is having a summer to remember.