Jasmine Paolini Partners with Marc López as New Coach Ahead of Stuttgart Open

STUTTGART, Germany – In a significant move for her career, Jasmine Paolini has appointed Marc López as her new coach as she prepares for the upcoming WTA Stuttgart Open, starting April 15, 2025. Paolini, currently ranked sixth in the world, is looking to build on her impressive run from last year, where she reached two Grand Slam finals.

Paolini’s decision comes after a decade-long partnership with Renzo Furlan, who was instrumental in her development and was awarded WTA Coach of the Year for 2024. Reflecting on the change during a press conference, Paolini expressed gratitude towards Furlan: “Renzo is such an important part of my growth, both as a player and as a person.” Despite this deep bond, Paolini feels that starting fresh with López may provide new inspiration and direction.

López, known for coaching tennis superstar Rafael Nadal, brings a wealth of experience to the role. Although he has not served as a head coach until now, his background includes winning the doubles title at Roland Garros and reaching as high as No. 3 in the doubles rankings. Paolini remarked, “We’ve started well with a lot of calmness. We are getting to know each other, and we’ll see how it goes.”

The new partnership is critical as Paolini aims to defend her performance during the clay court season, particularly at Roland Garros, where she hopes to leverage López’s expertise. “I started thinking about someone who could inspire me, and with the help of my agent, we arrived at Marc,” she explained. “He certainly has experience at this level, which I’m excited to tap into.”

Paolini’s first challenge under López’s guidance will be against German player Eva Lys, whom she previously defeated in a match earlier this year in Dubai. As Paolini gears up for the Stuttgart Open, she recognizes the intensity of the competition, noting, “This is a crucial time to prepare, especially with the upcoming Rome-Paris double.”

The Stuttgart Open features many of the top players in women’s tennis, including Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. Paolini’s performance will be closely monitored, as fans and experts hope the new coaching arrangement enhances her competitive edge. The tournament runs from April 14 to 21, 2025.

In addition to Paolini’s match, fellow Italian players Camilla Rosatello, Luciano Darderi, and Flavio Cobolli will also compete in various tournaments across Europe starting on the same day. These matches highlight the growing presence of Italian talent in professional tennis.

The sporting world awaits to see how this new coaching alliance will impact Paolini, while many speculate if López can provide the winning formula she needs for continued success on the professional circuit.