2024 Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini has credited her Ghanaian heritage for her remarkable speed on the court.
The Ghanaian-Italian tennis star advanced to her first Wimbledon final after defeating Croatian Donna Vekic 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(8) on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
The match, noted for being the longest women’s semi-final at the All England Club, showcased Paolini’s resilience and speed.
Paolini, who had never won a match at Wimbledon before this summer, is now just one win away from lifting the coveted Rosewater Dish.
Though she is not a Ghanaian national, she has strong ties to West Africa. Her father, Ugo, is Italian, and her mother, Jacqueline, is of Polish and Ghanaian descent.
Her Ghanaian heritage traces back to her maternal grandfather, who hails from Ghana but resides in Copenhagen.
The 28-year-old embraces all aspects of her diverse heritage and attributes her quickness on the court to her Ghanaian roots.
“I am proud to have different blood in my body. Of course, I feel Italian because I was born in Italy. My mum is Polish, but my grandfather is from Ghana, and I think I am fast because of Ghana,” Paolini remarked at Roland Garros in June 2024.
In an interview with BNPParibasOpen.com in May 2024, Paolini elaborated:
“Ghanaian, maybe I feel like I’m fast on court. And I think that part of my family helped me. Maybe from Poland, I have the determination, maybe. But of course, I also have the Italian energy. It’s a mix. And I’m really proud of it.”
Paolini, who fell short in the French Open final in May, now stands on the verge of making history as the first Ghanaian-Italian player, male or female, to win the Wimbledon singles title.
She will compete for this prestigious honor on Saturday, July 13, against 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova, who defeated Elena Rybakina in the second semi-final.
