Voice of Paolini: I Performed Better Than in My Last Grand Slam Final, But It Wasn’t Enough to Win the Title

The 28-year-old Paolini has made back-to-back appearances in Grand Slam finals at the French Open and Wimbledon this year, making her one of the hottest players on the women’s tennis circuit. Although she fell short in both finals, she is getting closer to realizing her dream of winning a Grand Slam title.

Paolini

“I have to accept today’s loss and go back to training,” Paolini said in her post-match interview. “I will definitely keep working hard, but it’s hard for me to say much right now because I was so close to victory, but it wasn’t enough to win.”

“To be honest, her performance in the first set was outstanding. Her serve was excellent, with a very high first-serve percentage, which was difficult for me. I think I performed better than in my last Grand Slam final, but it wasn’t enough to get the championship.”

Paolini will break into the top 5 in the world rankings for the first time next week, becoming the highest-ranked Italian woman since Schiavone.

“I need some time to reflect on reaching the Wimbledon final. It’s a great achievement, but of course, I’m still feeling disappointed. The past year has been fantastic for me. I’ve enjoyed this season, and I hope to carry this momentum forward. I will train hard, trying to stay focused and maintain a high level of tennis.”

“As I’ve said many times, I focus on the present and maintaining my form. That’s the biggest goal for me and my team. If I can keep this up, I believe I have more opportunities for success. But if I can’t, nothing good will happen.”

Currently, Paolini ranks third in the season’s Race to the Championships behind Swiatek and Rybakina, and she is well-positioned to qualify for the WTA Finals for the first time this year. However, Paolini continues to emphasize her focus on the present, and as the Paris Olympics approach, the Italian will undoubtedly be among the favorites for gold.

“I don’t know what my next dream is,” said Paolini. “Today, I dreamed of winning the title, but it didn’t work out as I hoped. I’m enjoying the achievements I’ve had so far. I’m now ranked fifth in the world, which is incredible. I’ve reached two Grand Slam finals, and although I didn’t win, I’m still happy with that result.”

(Translated by Wang Fei)