"She wasn’t happy about losing, but she remained positive": Cheerful but stubborn: How Jasmine Paolini is different to the rest

The former world No. 18 Martina Trevisan had to watch Italy’s victory in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals from afar a few months ago. The former French Open semi-finalist was part of the Italian team that reached the final in 2023 and secured the title in 2024. However, injuries removed her from the top of the rankings last season, and this time she had to support her team remotely.

“I am very happy for the girls. They did an incredible job; defending the title is never easy. I followed them all week in Shenzhen,” the 32-year-old player said in an interview with Clay Tenis. “Of course, I wanted to be a part of it, even if I wasn't there physically, I felt part of the team nonetheless.”

With a current ranking of barely No. 702 after a long period of inactivity, she is seeking a comeback in tennis. In her last months, she has had 7 consecutive losses in Challenger tournaments, the last one in Buenos Aires a week ago, but Trevisan is confident that things can improve heading into 2026.

“Coming back is never easy after nine months out without competing, so I need to be patient,” assured the 2022 Roland Garros semi-finalist. “But I am very happy to be back on the court and competing. I still love this sport and this life. That is what is important. I just have to be patient and work very hard every day.”

Trevisan has been an important part of the Italian women's team's success, and she was even the Italian No. 1 a few years ago. In 2022, she also competed in the United Cup alongside Lorenzo Musetti, reaching the final only to lose to the United States, with Jessica Pegula taking the definitive win against Trevisan to lift the trophy.

Currently, the leadership of the Italian team undoubtedly belongs to Jasmine Paolini, world No. 8 and champion of two WTA 1000 titles. Unlike most top players, Paolini blossomed at a later age than others, and until the age of 27, she was a player who fluctuated between the Top 100 and Top 50, far from the major spotlights in big tournaments.

“I always thought Jasmine was a great player, with explosive forehand and backhand,” says Trevisan. “Even when she was 80, 95, 115, 150—whatever the ranking—I thought she was incredible and that at some point she would show how good she is. Now she believes in herself more.”

“She is very stubborn, in a good way. I remember three or four years ago she played an ITF and lost in the first round to a very young player, perhaps unranked. I texted her to see how she was. She wasn’t happy about losing, but she remained positive. She is a very cheerful person and doesn't take everything too seriously. That is important in the life of tennis because you lose very often. If you focus too much on a defeat, it is difficult to react. Jasmine handles that aspect very well compared to others: she tends to take things the right way.”

The 32-year-old Italian is another player who broke through late, making her first Grand Slam main draw appearances around 2020, already at age 27. In only her second main draw appearance, the Italian advanced from the qualifying rounds to the quarter-finals of Roland Garros, only to fall to the eventual champion Iga Świątek. In her 2022 campaign, she ended up losing in the semi-finals to American Coco Gauff—two names that are now a regular part of the consistent Top 10 in recent seasons.

Trevisan was asked if, upon looking at the Top 10, she considers the landscape open for new players to break through. “Except perhaps Aryna, or right now Iga. I would add Rybakina… They have something extra: height, serve, physique. But in general, the level of the rest of the players on the tour is higher than four or five years ago. There are no easy matches,” Trevisan stated. “Aryna and Iga have something different and they show it in tournaments, but the general level is very high. Every match is difficult. I think Jasmine said something similar: the bar is higher now than it was ten years ago. Even players who are 120 play well. You always have to show your best tennis to win.”