Jasmine Paolini Breaks Up Fan Fight at Roland Garros

PARIS, France — Jasmine Paolini‘s match on Saturday at Roland Garros ended with an unexpected twist when she had to intervene in a crowd altercation after her victory in the second round of doubles. Paolini, alongside her partner Sara Errani, had just defeated Lulu Sun and Yue Yuan when she attempted to toss her match towel to fans.

As is common at tennis matches, players often give away towels, balls, and shirts to fans near the court. However, tensions escalated when two spectators fought over the towel Paolini threw into the stands, leading to chaos among the crowd. Security was called to handle the situation, but Paolini acted quickly to diffuse the situation herself.

According to eyewitnesses, Paolini retrieved the towel from both fans and decided to hand it to a different supporter nearby, showcasing her sense of fairness despite the minor spectacle. ‘She literally took the towel back from them and gave it to someone else,’ commented a fan on social media.

At 29 years old, Paolini is one of the few players still competing in both singles and doubles at the French Open. She and Errani are set to face Beatriz Haddad Maia and Laura Siegemund in the next round. Paolini is also eager to advance in singles as she prepares to battle Elina Svitolina, with their match taking place the day before the doubles clash.

‘I just came here trying to play a good tournament,’ Paolini said following her win against Ajla Tomljanovic in the second round. ‘Of course I played a lot in Rome, but it’s a good problem to have. Just thinking about this tournament. What happened in Rome, for now, I have to forget and try to go good here.’

Paolini has enjoyed a successful run at Roland Garros, winning nine consecutive singles matches, which marks her personal best. This includes a swift victory over Yuliia Starodubtseva, advancing her into the last 16 of Grand Slam events for the fifth time in her last six tries. Her upcoming match against Svitolina is one she hopes will solidify her spot as a formidable competitor in the tournament.