Very Tough Match, Semifinals a Dream,” Says Paolini

Jasmine Paolini is living the dream — and sweating through it, too. After a nerve-shredding quarter-final clash at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, the Italian firecracker booked her spot in the semi-finals for the very first time, and she’s not pretending it was easy.

“That was a very tough match,” Paolini admitted, still catching her breath in her post-match interview, flashing a mix of exhaustion and disbelief. “To be in the semifinals here in Rome… it’s a dream.”

And what a match it was. Full of cat-and-mouse rallies, gutsy shot-making, and emotional swings that could’ve given spectators whiplash, Paolini kept her composure when it mattered most. She clawed her way back from a set down and survived multiple break points in the decider, proving once again that she’s not just playing in Rome — she’s owning it.

The home crowd? Ecstatic. From the first serve to the final fist pump, they rode the rollercoaster with her, chanting her name like she was already lifting the trophy. And who could blame them? Paolini’s heart-on-sleeve style and scrappy determination are turning her into a hometown legend before our eyes.

With this win, she becomes the first Italian woman to reach the Rome semis since 2014 — and the dream isn’t over yet. Next up, a date with destiny (and probably another top seed).

Don’t sleep on Jasmine. She’s not just dreaming big — she’s waking everyone up while doing it.