Heading into Wimbledon, most outside of the tennis world had probably never heard of Italian player, Jasmine Paolini.
But after beating Donna Vekić in Thursday’s semi-final match to advance to the Wimbledon Final, people are starting to circulate her name.
And, most are surprised, many pleasantly, to learn that the Italian player has Black roots.
Paolini, who will make her first Wimbledon Finals appearance on Saturday, hails from Italy but her mother has Ghanaian roots.
“People in the general public who are Serena fans or Coco fans are now finding out about her roots,” said Courtside Coffee creator and First and Pen contributor, Merlisa Lawrence Corbett.
One look at Paolini and it’s obvious she’s Black; her hair alone gives it away. But her background has more to it.
Her father, Ugo Paolini, is Italian but her mother, Jacqueline, has Polish, Danish and Ghanaian roots as her father was from Ghana and her mother was Polish. Jasmine also speaks English, Italian and Polish.
Her multicultural background, coupled with her diminutive height (5’4), aggressive and fearless style of play and her big smile makes her endearing to follow, especially to those looking for an underdog with a great story to follow and support.
Her background, which she is proud of and doesn’t hide, has also helped her on the court.
“I feel like I’m fast on the court,” said Paolini in an interview with BNPParibasOpen.com about how her Ghanaian blood has helped her. “I have determination [from the Polish side], but of course I also have the Italian energy. It’s a mix. And I’m really proud of it.”
So far this season, Paolini has had an incredible run leading up to Wimbledon.
In June, she made it to the French Open Final before losing to Poland’s Iga Swiatek 2-6, 1-6. She also won the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in February.
With her upcoming Wimbledon Finals appearance, Paolini is now the first woman since Serena Williams in 2016 to reach the Roland Garros Final and Wimbledon Final in the same year.
Her surprising ride in 2024 continues the momentum she built the year prior when she cracked the top 30 (29) for the first time in her career.
It’s been a long journey for 28-year-old Paolini, who made her pro debut in 2011 in Italy and WTA qualifying debut four years later. But the late-bloomer is taking it all in stride.
“I think every person has her own steps,” she said after her win in Dubai. “I needed some more time to believe maybe that I could play at this level, how I did this week.”
Now she’s had another week to remember.
“I am just loving what I do, just trying to live in the present, to stay there, then make the best I could do in the moment.”
What she could do is make some unique history.
If she wins on Saturday, she will become the shortest Grand Slam champion in history.
And, to the joy of Black tennis, and sports, fans around the world, Paolini would also become the first Black Wimbledon women’s singles champion since Serena Williams in 2016.
