Jasmine Paolini was laughing, something she does loudly and often.
Paolini had just explained that the WTA Finals she most vividly remembered watching on television was one featuring Dominika Cibulkova, who captured the title in 2016. She didn’t know why she picked that one over victories by more well-known winners like Serena Williams and Ashleigh Barty.
“It was unbelievable,” Paolini, of Italy, said of Cibulkova’s win over top-seeded Angelique Kerber by phone from Shanghai in late September. Then she let out a guffaw so alluring that others often can’t help joining in.
Paolini uses the words “unbelievable” and “crazy” a lot, but mostly to describe her own journey this year. At 28, she has qualified for her first WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. She and her compatriot Sara Errani have also qualified in doubles, making Paolini the only competitor in both singles and doubles.
“It’s a very elite club,” Paolini said. “It’s really our reward for the season, so it is great to qualify.”
Paolini began the year ranked No. 29. Four years ago, she was a little-known sprite barely ranked in the top 100. But a WTA 1000 title in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in February followed by surprise runner-up finishes to Iga Swiatek at the French Open and to Barbora Krejcikova at Wimbledon thrust her into the spotlight. Now she’s ranked No. 4.
Throughout this unexpected run — until this year she had never been beyond the second round at a major championship — Paolini, who is 5-foot-4 in a sport dominated by six-footers, has mesmerized followers with her fearsome forehand, wondrous foot speed and shouts of “Forza” (“Let’s go,” in English) when she wins an important point. Her grin and quirky command of the English language have created a Pied Piper effect.
“It’s not easy because I am short,” Paolini said with yet another giggle. “But my feet are fast, and I can make some powerful shots. And I have joy for this sport, and that really helps a lot. I’m trying to fight on every ball and just trying to find a way.”
Paolini understands what a magic carpet ride she is on. After 13 years of unremarkable results on the pro tour, she is the first Italian to contest the WTA Finals since Flavia Pennetta in 2015.
“This was a strange year, but a really nice year,” Paolini said. “Things are happening that I can’t believe. People are recognizing me, and fans are asking for pictures and autographs and screaming my name. I’m trying to get used to it.”
Errani, 37, teamed with Paolini this year, and they promptly won the Italian Open, reached the final at the French Open and won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Through doubles, Paolini said she had improved her serve and volley. She said that Errani inspired and mentored her. Errani said she understood what made Paolini tick.
“She has so much power, and even though she’s not too tall she has a lot of energy,” said Errani, who was ranked No. 1 in doubles in 2012 and is now No. 7. “She’s very intelligent on court and she’s always ready to talk. She wants to understand everything. That’s really good because you can see in her the improvement.”
Paolini and Errani, as well as their fellow Italian Jannik Sinner, the men’s No. 1 in singles, have made Italian tennis more popular. Errani and Paolini are acutely aware of that.
“Tennis in Italy is really important now,” Errani said. “Ten years ago, it was different. We didn’t have too much news, but now everybody’s talking about tennis. It’s not easy to manage everything, but [Jasmine] is doing great. I watch her and she has good energy, she’s always smiling, and the people love her. It’s not always easy to be kind, it’s not always easy to have that energy.”
If Paolini were to win the WTA Finals, she could earn $5,155,000. But the money doesn’t matter to her.
“I’m trying to buy a house,” she said, “but I respect money, and I don’t like to spend it. I say to myself, if you like something you have to buy it because you travel and work so hard every day. Of course, I’m not buying a yacht.”
And then Paolini laughed. Again.
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