Jasmine Paolini Delights Fans with Victory and Gesture at Wuhan Open

Italian tennis player Jasmine Paolini created a memorable moment both on and off the court at the recent Wuhan Open. Despite defeating China’s own Yuan Yue in a straight-set victory, 6-4, 6-3, Paolini managed to win the hearts of local fans during her on-court interview.

In the interview, which took place shortly after the match, the interviewer acknowledged Paolini’s growing fan base in China. “They’re cheering for you,” the interviewer remarked, highlighting the support she had garnered from the crowd. Paolini reciprocated the affection by gratefully addressing the cheering section with “Xiè xiè,” which means “thank you” in Mandarin.

To further express her gratitude, Paolini presented a fan in the crowd with a personal memento, a towel, from her seat, prompting an enthusiastic reaction. “For you, I’m going to give you a towel now,” she said, personally delivering it across the court, which added to the excitement of the atmosphere.

Addressing the challenges of competing in her opponent’s home country, Paolini commented, “It’s not easy to play a Chinese player in China, but the atmosphere was great, a lot of people. It’s really good to have fans here, I’m really happy to be playing here in Wuhan.”

Paolini, who recently lifted the doubles trophy with Sara Errani in Beijing, is looking to replicate her success in Wuhan. She is set to face off against Erika Andreeva in the third round. A victory could potentially set up a match against Zheng Qinwen, China’s highest-ranked player and current Olympic gold medalist.