Jasmine Paolini Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Jasmine, welcome back. I am sure you have some fond memories being here after winning the title in 2024. How have your preparations been since Doha?

JASMINE PAOLINI: Yes, I arrive yesterday. So for the moment everything fine. Of course, it’s great to be back here. To me is an amazing place to play tennis. Amazing memories. First big result that I had. It’s nice to be back here in Dubai.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How are you feeling coming into this? What do you think about your form and results?

JASMINE PAOLINI: Doha, it was a tough tournament. Grateful that I played three matches in doubles, just to be in the competition. I think it helps.

But every tournament is a different story: positive, but also negative. We’ll see. I think it’s a positive thing to change the place, to come back here in Dubai. Hopefully I’m going to feel better on the court. We’ll see. Every week, it’s another chance. Hopefully I am going to play a good tournament.

Q. In 2024 you had a great start to your season. How do you channel the positive energy into this season?

JASMINE PAOLINI: So I didn’t get the question.

Q. You won here in 2024. It started a great season for you. How do you bring that energy into this season?

JASMINE PAOLINI: It helped me, this tournament. Of course, here I have great memories. It’s a weird place to play tennis because I remember before winning that tournament in 2024, I was like here I cannot play well (smiling). In that year, something change. I don’t know why.

But it’s not easy to play here because there are few courts that are really fast. The center court, it’s a bit different. We have to adapt to it.

Of course, coming from Doha, which was very, very slow, the court, here it’s a bit different. But I like those condition I think. Hopefully it gives me energy for this tournament, but also for the rest of the season.

Q. I think last two seasons you have made excellent work. Your ranking is in the top 10. How do you evaluate your work, how you can improve your work for next season?

JASMINE PAOLINI: Yeah, I think the past two years have really been intense for me, playing many matches, singles and doubles. Hopefully the experience that I have in the last two years will help me also this year.

I think we have to be more consistent. The beginning of the year has been a little bit up and downs. Few matches were really good, few matches not so good (smiling). We have to find a way to be every tournament consistent, just try to improve the level.

But I think the key, it’s also to win, like, more matches. That give you confidence to play better, to improve also faster I think. When you win, it’s easier to kind of improve. When you lose, it’s always tough. You have doubts when you step on court.

Hopefully we will play many matches in the next months because I think it’s one of the things that helps the most.

Q. You already played good in the 1000s. You won multiple titles. What about the Grand Slam? Do you think you need to improve and need to get maybe semifinals? Does playing doubles affect you?

JASMINE PAOLINI: I didn’t play well in the last Grand Slams. There are no easy tournament. I think, yeah, I could play better in Australia. I could play better in US Open. I had chances both tournaments. I didn’t play well.

But the important thing to me is to stay there and to try to find the level. I think if you find the level, then the chances will come.

But yeah, sometimes it went well in the last two years, sometimes not.

Q. The doubles affect it, that you are playing singles and doubles?

JASMINE PAOLINI: You mean in positive or the negative way?

Q. Both side. Physically, let’s say.

JASMINE PAOLINI: I don’t know because when I made final in Grand Slam, I was playing doubles as well. So I think depends. I think it’s something that can help me. Since I started to play doubles, I improve my ranking, I play better.

But we have to find the balance, as well. I’m trying always to find that balance. I think it’s a great thing to play doubles, but you have also to balance with your physical condition.

Q. I wanted to ask you about your relationship with pressure. How has it changed as you became a top-10 player? Do you deal with pressure better now or is it more difficult that you’re always in the top and trying to hang on? How do you deal with losses now compared to the past?

JASMINE PAOLINI: I think, yeah, it’s a bit different. I think 2024 was like a surprise for me. I was very happy for, like, any result. Then last year I was starting the year with, it’s going to be tough to do the same year as 2024, but you have to try it. I did I think a pretty good year.

Yeah, this year, it’s something different as well. I think I close. I managed to qualify two times in a row in WTA Finals.

Maybe I’m expecting a little bit more on myself. At the same time I realize I have to keep the expectation low because it’s tough. Many girls are playing very good. It’s not easy to be always like at the top. I have to enjoy the ups and downs, as well. It’s normal.

Of course, I want to be there. I want to be consistent. It’s not easy. You have to deal with many, many things. I think, yeah, my goal, I have to – I don’t know how to say – in my mind the goal has to be that I have to be enjoying to be in the court, to focus on the work, not on the result. It’s not easy to keep this mindset all the time.

His is important thing that I have to carry on, yeah.

Q. I see you smiling in general. We know you’re a cheerful person. What pisses you off? What gets you mad? What are some of the things that can tick you off?

JASMINE PAOLINI: On court, not to express myself at the 100%. Sometimes I trying to force myself to kind of smile because I know it help me to relax, to play better. But it’s not easy because sometimes, as I said before, you want things works, but things doesn’t work, and you get mad because you give your best every day. It’s not easy, you know?

I don’t know. Many things (laughter). Many things. But no, I trying always to find a way smile because I know it helps me outside the court, but also in the court.

Q. As we have arrived, I’ve seen quite a few Filipinos arriving for Eala’s match at 7 p.m. Coming from Asia, we don’t see many singles players emerging from this continent. How do you view her progress and how important is it for this reason?

JASMINE PAOLINI: I think it’s really important to have people from all around the world playing tennis. Somebody like Alexandra Eala, it’s a huge thing for tennis. I think it’s great to have many, many fans also coming in tournaments where usually there are less people. Like Abu Dhabi was full of people watching Eala. I also remember the first match in Doha, you could hear from outside the court people cheering for her. It’s great.

I think also for the generation that are coming after that for tennis. We all know Asia has a lot of population, so a lot of people that can come to tennis, can support us, can support our sport, as well.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports