When the dust eventually settles on the career of Jasmine Paolini she will almost certainly look back at 2024 as the year when things finally started to click.
The Italian player has enjoyed a breakout year and on Wednesday she was part of the Italy team, that claimed success in the Billie Jean King Cup.
Italy overcame Slovakia in the final to lift the trophy and cap a pretty remarkable year for tennis in Italy after the emergence of Jannik Sinner in the men’s game.
Paolini made history with her world ranking back in October and the 28-year-old definitely has reasons to be cheerful after this year.
Italy were perhaps lucky to overcome Poland in the semi-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup, with Paolini praising Iga Swiatek after losing to her in the singles.
But, it was Italy who were celebrating with the trophy aloft after a tough few days and for Paolini, it caps off the year 2024 just nicely.
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Jasmine Paolini shares what she thinks about Jannik Sinner after Italy win Billie Jean King Cup
When it comes to Italian tennis, it’s not just Sinner who has put it on the map this year, with Paolini doing a capable job of supporting him in the female game.
However, Paolini is yet to get over the line in a Grand Slam – despite reaching the final of both the French Open and Wimbledon during the current year.
Paolini had never been beyond the second round of either of those events before this year and that represents remarkable progress in her career.
The Wimbledon run was arguably more magical given that in four previous visits to SW19 as a singles participant, she had lost every single game at the event!
Sinner was in her thoughts after winning the Billie Jean King Cup, however, and his efforts are clearly being appreciated by the female Italian players too.
She said in her press conference: “I think it’s an unbelievable year for Italian tennis. It’s so good for our sport in our country. We have a lot of fun now in Italy, fun of tennis, you know. Tennis is growing a lot, and I think it’s really good.
“It’s really good also to have Jannik as World No. 1. He’s really an example for everybody. Nice personality.
“So it’s good, you know. I think was an unbelievable year. I mean, yes, was an unbelievable year, I have to say (smiling). If I look back, I say yes. You’re right. It was unbelievable, yeah.”
Paolini can go one better and win a Grand Slam in 2025
At 28, the Italian should be at her peak now and given her form in 2024, it suggests that she’s perhaps a late bloomer to a certain degree.
Paolini can look back at this year with a lot of happy memories even if the two major finals that she lost are perhaps still tough to take.
The women’s game is in good shape right now though and is as competitive as ever, with more players turning up to events capable of winning than ever.
Paolini will start next year as the world number four – her highest ranking ever – and that should give he Tuscany-born player more of a sniff at the majors.
After winning the Billie Jean King Cup, Paolini will take some confidence into next year and as a likeable player, it’s exciting to see what she can achieve in 2025.
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