/sportsinfo/media/member_avatars/image 59.png)
Follow Us/sportsinfo/media/media_files/zPZTOjaajtjvWU1llx1V.png)
Jasmine Paolini and Iga Swiatek (Source: X)
Jasmine Paolini and Iga Swiatek are set to clash in the summit shutdown of the 2024 French Open women’s singles event on Saturday, June 8. Ahead of the crucial encounter, the Italian professional has opened up about her relationship with Swiatek.
Paolini is set to make her maiden appearance in a Grand Slam final with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Russia's Mirra Andreeva in the semi-finals. On the other hand, Swiatek is aiming for her third straight title at Roland-Garros and her fourth triumph in the last five years.
Swiatek is the favourite, but Paolini is confident of her impressive campaign so far in Paris. She has produced dazzling performances throughout the season, with a quarter-final win over World No. 4 Elena Rybakina standing out among them.
At the press conference, following her comprehensive victory over Andreeva, Paolini was asked about her relationship with her counterpart in the final. The 28-year-old recalled the moment the Pole congratulated her after her win over Anna Kalinskaya in the final at the Dubai Tennis Championships earlier this year. She also mentioned her attempt to speak Polish.
“I try to speak in Polish but it’s not easy. I’m a little bit shy, you know? Because I’m not feeling confident in it. But of course, when I see her (Swiatek), I say congratulations for the titles she has won. So, the same she does,” Paolini said.
"She congratulated me for Dubai. She wishes me good luck after matches when we meet in the locker room. So yeah, I try to speak Polish but you know, it’s not easy for me, but yeah, we have our relationship,” she added.
Paolini has to sweat hard to get past Swiatek in the final
World No. 1 Swiatek booked her berth in the final with a straight-sets win over Coco Gauff on Court Philippe-Chatrier. She's on an 18-match unbeaten streak, and it will be hard for Paolini to stop her momentum. Notably, Paolini has lost both matches she has played so far on the WTA tour against Swiatek.
The two have previously met on the WTA Tour, with Swiatek winning 6-3, 6-3 in the first round of the 2022 US Open. They also locked horns in the second round of an ITF event in 2018, which Swiatek won 6–1, 6–2.