Jasmine Paolini's journey from a rising star to an Olympic champion has catapulted Italian tennis into the spotlight. Explore her incredible 2024 season, the growing popularity of the sport in Italy, and the impact of her success on a new generation of tennis fans.
Italian world number four Jasmine Paolini achieved significant success in 2024, reaching the finals of both the French Open and Wimbledon before clinching Olympic doubles gold. This breakthrough year propelled her into the limelight, garnering increased public attention. Paolini acknowledges that the recognition escalated after her impressive runs in Paris and London.
She describes the overwhelming support she received upon her return to Italy, noting that people couldn't resist stopping her to share their excitement about her achievements. While the tennis finals brought encounters with passionate fans, the Olympic gold medal sparked a more widespread recognition, transcending the realm of sports enthusiasts.Paolini reflects on the unique connection fans feel with public figures, explaining that some even seek a more intimate interaction, such as a kiss, which she finds both heartwarming and amusing. While she embraces the newfound popularity, she also seeks moments of normalcy, opting for less crowded restaurants to escape the constant attention. Italian tennis is striving to capture the widespread adoration football enjoys, though the task remains challenging. Although football endured a disappointing period with the national team's failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup and a lackluster performance in Euro 2024, it still dominates the sports landscape. Despite this, Paolini points to a recent survey revealing a 39% rise in tennis followers, indicating a growing interest in the sport. The emergence of Jannik Sinner, Italy's world number one, has undoubtedly played a significant role in this surge. Sinner's exceptional season in 2024 cemented his status as a national superstar. The Italian Tennis Federation's support, including providing wildcards to promising young players, has further contributed to the sport's increasing popularity. Paolini attributes the surge in interest partly to the Covid-19 pandemic, as tennis was one of the few sports accessible during the lockdown period. The success stories of Matteo Berrettini, who reached the 2021 Wimbledon final, and Sinner's meteoric rise have inspired a new generation of tennis enthusiasts. A 30% increase in children joining tennis clubs last year underscores the growing appeal of the sport. While Paolini doesn't consider herself a role model, she finds it deeply gratifying that young children look up to her. She hopes to continue inspiring future generations of tennis players and provide them with more reasons to celebrate in 2025
TENNIS ITALY PARIS OLYMPICS POPULARITY Jannik SINNER ITALIAN TENNIS FEDERATION
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