Jasmine Paolini won’t put a number on what success at Australian Open 2025 may look like for her this fortnight.
The Italian pocket rocket starts the new season with a career-high No.4 world ranking, and with bolstered self-belief thanks to a stellar 2024 campaign that she admits has made getting restaurant reservations easier.
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Mindset in professional sport can be a huge part of performance. Saying you can win, or you will win, is a trademark of champions and unsurprisingly often leads to success. However, very few of the men and women competing for Grand Slam glory at Melbourne Park would lay early claim to the tournament during press conferences on Friday. Paolini was among them.
That’s not to say, however, that the 29-year-old is not capable of such, or spoiling Aryna Sabalenka’s shot at a third consecutive crown. Paolini attributes increased self-belief to her recent run of hot form, including two major finals, gold in the doubles at the Paris Olympics, and title success at the Billie Jean King Cup.
“For me, maybe when I was 22 or 23, to qualify for a Slam was too big to do it. I think that changed a little bit in the last few years, and it helped me to do better results,” she said.
“Last year I did a good year, I had many experience in big matches as well, so I hope it’s helping me also with the first round [of the Australian Open], which is the match I’m sure I’m going to play.
“I think also to know last year I played really well can help me to play a tough match. I have more matches under my belt – English lesson here – so I try to keep in mind the matches of the last year that can help me this year.”
Managing expectations, Paolini says, has also been key to better results on-court, which is perhaps why she won’t entertain talk of titles before her first-round encounter with China’s Wei Sijia.
“I don't know, I don’t want even to ask myself this,” Paolini said when asked what a successful tournament for her would constitute.
“I want to keep expectation low because it’s not good to me to think, ‘I would love to do this’. I’m trying to play a good tournament, but you never know, and, for me, to keep the expectation low is the best way to come to the first match. I’m trying to think like that.
“With my coach, we speak a lot about it because when I step on court, and I'm enjoying playing, I'm more focused and more calm. I can I think play better, and I actually feel better, so I can perform better.”