“Sometimes I’m a little bit scared to dream too much” – disappointed Paolini not quite ready to contemplate what’s next

Now that her thrilling run to back-to-back finals at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon has come to an end, Jasmine Paolini is left to try and make sense of the earth-shattering success she has achieved in the last six weeks. Now one of five players to have reached finals in Paris and Wimbledon in the same season since 1999, along with Steffi Graf, Venus Williams, Serena Williams and Justine Henin, the Italian has a lot to be proud of.

“I still have to, I think, realise that I [made the] final at Wimbledon,” Paolini said. “It’s an amazing thing. Of course, now I’m a little bit disappointed. It’s been an incredible year. I hope to continue like that with this level of tennis. I’m going to try to work to keep this focus, this level.” 

“I don’t know what to dream right now. Today I was dreaming to hold the trophy, but didn’t go well. I’m just enjoying the position where I am right now, 5 in the world.

— Jasmine Paolini

At Roland-Garros Paolini told the media that she didn’t like to dream too big. She said for her it was more appropriate to take things slowly. “I started to dream, I think, step by step,” she said. “Not, you know, too far away.” 

After Saturday’s 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 loss to Barbora Krejcikova in the Wimbledon final, Paolini echoed those same sentiments. 

“Sometimes I’m a little bit scared to dream too much,” she told a crowded press room.

The 28-year-old Italian, who became the first woman from her country to reach the Wimbledon final this week, says she just needs to keep her head down and put in the hard yards.

“I’m going back, trying to practice, to stay in the present, as I said many times. This is the goal for me, my team, to try to keep this level as much as possible – If I keep this level, I think I can have the chance to do great things. But if I’m not keeping this level, [nothing good will come]. 

It’s understandable that Paolini will need some time to reflect on her remarkable run this summer. Her life will never be the same after reaching back-to-back major finals and climbing into the WTA’s top-5 for the first time. It’s a lot to process. 

“I don’t know what to dream right now,” she admitted. Today I was dreaming to hold the trophy, but didn’t go well. I’m just enjoying the position where I am right now, 5 in the world. It’s unbelievable, honestly.

“I just did two finals in two Grand Slams. I have to be also happy with the results. Also a little bit disappointed.” 

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