Following an excellent 2024 campaign, Jasmine Paolini has endured a difficult start to 2025 so far.
Before the Miami Open, the 29-year-old had yet to reach the quarter-finals of any of her previous four events this season.
But tropical conditions in Florida had a great effect on Jasmine Paolini, as she is into the last four for the tournament for the first time in her career.
In the process, the World number seven made history and she will prepare to take on Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday.
Jasmine Paolini makes Italian tennis history at the Miami Open
After coming from a set down to defeat Naomi Osaka, Paolini produced her strongest performance of the tournament.
She faced Magda Linette in the quarter-finals, who was feeling confident after her victory over Coco Gauff.
Paolini saved seven of the eight break points she faced in a 6-3, 6-2 victory, and that victory was a historic one.
According to Opta Ace, the two-time Grand Slam runner-up has now become the first Italian woman to reach the Miami Open semi-finals.
Furthermore, this is her first semi-final of the year and Paolini is now just two matches away from her first title of the season.
Jasmine Paolini assesses her 2025 season so far
Paolini is delighted to have found some of her best form this season in Miami.
There is far more expectation and scrutiny on the player this year, following her outstanding 2024 season.
Perhaps this has been challenging for the Italian to adjust to, and it is something she is trying to figure out, but she has done a good job of that in Miami.
“I think I didn’t play badly this season, but I didn’t have a great result,” said Paolini, who plays Sabalenka in the Miami semi-finals. “But I was there. I lost many matches, but to big opponents.
“[It] was tough, but at the same time I was repeating to myself that, you know, I’m there. Maybe I need just a little bit more confidence. It came here, maybe.”
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