In 2024, Italian tennis reached new heights, with Jasmine Paolini and Jannik Sinner leading the charge. Paolini openly admires Sinner, calling him “intelligent, polite and charismatic.” She and her coach closely study his matches, analyzing “how Sinner plays and how he hits the ball” to inspire her own technique. That year, Italy stood unmatched in tennis, sweeping Grand Slam titles, Olympic victories, and climbing rankings like no other nation. The camaraderie shines through, especially after Jannik returned from his three-month ban. What did Paolini have to say?

In a stunning turn, Jannik is set to make his comeback at the Italian Open after a controversial three-month doping ban by WADA. He will face either Mariano Navone or Federico Cina in his first match since the Australian Open earlier this year.

Jasmine can’t help but speak warmly of her compatriot’s return. At a pre-tournament press conference, she said, “I met Sinner, it’s nice to see him back on tour. What happened was a bit of a controversy. I honestly think the suspension was unfair, being off the tour for three months didn’t help anyone. I think Jannik is an incredible player and person, he didn’t deserve this. I think what happened scared everyone a little, because we are subject to anti-doping controls all year round and contamination is scary.”

Her belief stems from the fact that Sinner’s case involves unintentional doping. According to his appeal, he came into contact with the banned substance Clostebol after his former physio used a spray containing it to treat a wound on his hand, then gave him a gloveless massage. Paolini added, “We have no control over everything we do, everything we eat, everything we touch, and I can give you an example right away. A fan wants to give you a high five and maybe he has something on his hands, you never know.”

Though the ITIA initially accepted his explanation and avoided a ban, WADA intervened, pushing for sanctions due to what they called negligence by his team. An out of court compromise was reached: a three-month ban, lifted on May 4. Jasmine calls it a “scary” situation for any professional athlete.

While Jannik missed no Grand Slams, he lost about 2100 ATP ranking points during the suspension. She said, “I think Jannik’s case has made everyone face how delicate this situation can be. WADA said it will change some rules in 2027, maybe something could have been done earlier.” 

Reports from Bird and Blue say WADA’s updated code, effective January 1, 2027, will emphasize “human rights,” expand protection for minors, and focus on “Athlete Support Personnel.” The definition of “Contaminated Products” will broaden to “Contaminated Source.” But as Paolini notes, that’s still a while away – and action could have come sooner.

In the meantime, Paolini praises ATP World No.1: “What do I admire about Jannik? His intelligence. I consider him an extremely intelligent person, in what he says, how he behaves. So his intelligence is one of the most powerful weapons he has, if not the most powerful.” And it’s true!

Despite his absence, Jannik’s stellar run last year – clinching eight titles, including the Australian Open and US Open – helped him keep enough points to defend No.1. He’s held that spot for 48 weeks, leading No.2 Alexander Zverev by 1645 points. Paolini credits his grit and success as a trailblazer for the entire Italian tennis family.

Paolini credits Sinner for her incredible run at the Miami Open

Jasmine Paolini made history at the 2025 Miami Open by reaching the semifinals, becoming the first Italian woman to do so. After a strong run-beating Naomi Osaka and then Poland’s Magda Linette 6-3, 6-2-Paolini credited Sinner’s success for inspiring the entire Italian tennis scene. “I think Jannik, he help us a lot. We have the World No. 1. It’s amazing for Italy,” she said. “Tennis is growing up a lot. We are believing more that we can do big result because you see other players doing it.”

Paolini also reflected on her tough fourth-round match, noting the challenging conditions compared to the previous day. “Yesterday was so fast and sunny and different completely,” she explained. “Today to me was tougher conditions and different. She was playing good, for sure, yesterday.” Now, the 29-year-old is set to face top seed Aryna Sabalenka for a spot in the final, trailing 1-3 in their head-to-head but eager to keep the momentum going.

The rise of Italian tennis is undeniable, with Sinner’s dominance and Paolini’s breakthrough fueling excitement. Now, with Sinner back on home soil and Paolini charging forward, Italy’s tennis scene looks ready to take over. As Paolini gears up for her next match against Lulu Sun, the question remains: will Italy continue its tennis renaissance? Share your thoughts in the comments below!