Jasmine started well, breaking serve from the world no.1 in the first set but immediately suffering the pace. She finishes 6-2 6-1
“If I’m the new Nadal? Ask me in 14 Roland Garros…”. Meanwhile we are at 4, “only” 10 are missing to match the master of Paris, Iga Swiatek’s idol since she was a child. The one who pays the price is Jasmine Paolini, already gigantic in reaching the Slam final on clay in both singles and doubles, but who has to surrender to the excessive power of the fast-footed Pole in two sets 6-2 6-1. The emotion of the first Slam final, added to a player who has no rivals on clay, did the rest but the Italian, who from Monday will be number 7 in the world, confirms that she has reached the level of maturity and growth of a true Top 10. Thanks to Renzo Furlan and the constant desire to improve of the 28 year old from Bagni di Lucca, champion of the WTA 1000 in Dubai and already certain of qualifying for the Games.
The match starts well for Jasmine, who manages to hold a very difficult first round of serve and then even breaks serve against the world number 1, now at five Slams. The advantage is ephemeral because Iga immediately recovers the break, then takes the lead 4-2, again taking the serve from Paolini and imposing an increasingly higher pace. Consolidating the lead at 5-2, Iga conquers another break by closing the first set 6-2. Second set that started badly, with Paolini conceding two break points, she took the lead but was then forced to give up serve, ending up 3-0 down in a few minutes. Sara Errani, finalist in 2012 and her doubles partner, pushes her from the box as well as the blue captain Garbin, but against the excessive power of Iga, the tiramisu lover, there is really little that can be done. She finishes 6-2 6-1 but tomorrow there is another mission: to bring home the doubles title with Sarita, her mentor, colleague and friend. It can be done.
