All posts tagged: Paolini

Jannik Sinner And Jasmine Paolini Ready To Crown Golden Age Of Italian Tennis In Rome

Jannik Sinner And Jasmine Paolini Ready To Crown Golden Age Of Italian Tennis In Rome

Published by Webster

The Foro Italico (Italian Forum) has lived up to its name this past week as Jannik Sinner and Jasmine Paolini have given home fans a local hero to cheer for in both singles finals at the Italian Open. Sinner can end a near five-decade wait for an Italian winner of the men’s tournament in Rome, with Adriano Panatta way back in 1976 the last man to claim the title for a home player. The world number one takes on rival Carlos Alcaraz in a blockbuster final for tennis fans who have watched Sinner return from his three-month doping ban for testing positive twice in March last year for traces of clostebol, a contamination doping authorities accept was accidental. The 23-year-old was the first Italian to win a Grand Slam tournament since Panatta, again since 1976, when he won the Australian Open in January 2024.  He then became the first of his compatriots to claim top spot in the world rankings in June, and then the first to win the year-ending ATP Finals, claiming …

’Scared’, ‘stressful’, ‘political’- Tennis players from Andrey Rublev to Jasmine Paolini open up at Madrid Masters 1000

’Scared’, ‘stressful’, ‘political’- Tennis players from Andrey Rublev to Jasmine Paolini open up at Madrid Masters 1000

Published by Webster

Novak Djokovic is gunning for his 100th title at the Madrid Masters 1000 that began on April 23rd but the focus of several tennis players has been about the doping issue that has plagued the sport. The Madrid Masters is the last tournament before the return of Jannik Sinner, who will finish his three-month suspension for his double positive test last year on May 4. The world No. 8, the Russian and defending champion at Madrid Masters 1000 Andrey Rublev said he was “scared”. “The doping issue scares me quite a bit. We players have to say where we are every day, and you have to remember where you’ve been, because if you forget and they come for a test and you’re not there, it’s a foul. I don’t think it’s fair. We’re very overwhelmed by this issue.” Story continues below this ad He says he is worried about accidentally ingesting a banned substance. “As time has passed, my fear of taking anything has grown. If I’m sick, I don’t take anything because I’m afraid …

Jasmine Paolini In The Mood As She Races Into Second Round At Australian Open

Jasmine Paolini In The Mood As She Races Into Second Round At Australian Open

Published by Webster

Italian Jasmine Paolini inflicted a dreaded ‘bagel’ on Chinese qualifier Wei Sijia.© AFP Jasmine Paolini underlined her Australian Open title credentials with an almost flawless march into the second round on Tuesday. The 29-year-old Italian inflicted a dreaded ‘bagel’ on Chinese qualifier Wei Sijia, who was making her Grand Slam debut, as she sprinted to a 6-0, 6-4 victory. In 2024, Paolini became the first Italian woman to make the last 16 at all four Grand Slams in the Open Era and won the title in Dubai in a breakthrough season that propelled her into the top five. She also reached maiden major finals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon and the world number four is clearly in the mood to go all the way in Melbourne. “Maybe everything began from here last year,” said Paolini. “It gave me so much confidence. “And it’s great to be back here in Melbourne.” Paolini raced out of the blocks with an emphatic first-set performance, landing 81 percent of her first serves against the hapless world number …

Jasmine Paolini Leads Italy To Fifth Billie Jean King Cup Title

Jasmine Paolini Leads Italy To Fifth Billie Jean King Cup Title

Published by Webster

Italy won the Billie Jean King Cup for the fifth time as Jasmine Paolini beat Rebecca Sramkova to secure a dominant 2-0 win over Slovakia on Wednesday. World number four Paolini triumphed 6-2, 6-1 in the second singles rubber to follow up Lucia Bronzetti’s 6-2, 6-4 victory against Viktoria Hruncakova. Italy were runners-up to Canada in last year’s final but went one better in Malaga to become world champions for the first time since 2013. The victory capped a stunning year for Paolini who finished as runner-up at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. “Unbelievable year, unbelievable, to finish like this with the Billie Jean King cup, it’s amazing, I don’t have words to describe it,” said Paolini. “I’m trying just to enjoy it, it’s important to understand where you are, I feel lucky to be in this position, I feel lucky to be part of this team… “I’m really happy that this year we could bring the trophy home again.”  Slovakia, who won the competition in 2002, had never lost a BJK Cup tie …