Coco Gauff may be the one smiling in the spotlight at the moment after winning the French Open, but Jasmine Paolini, who just captured her first Grand Slam win, might be the most exciting player on the WTA tour as the tennis season hits its midway point.
Paolini's singles run in Paris ended in the fourth round against Elina Svitolina. However, her doubles run had a different story to tell. The Italian was coming off a finals triumph in Rome at the Italian Open. She captured both the singles title and the doubles title there. Her partner in crime, Sara Errani, also from Italy, joined her in the doubles victory.
Errani, a five-time doubles Grand Slam champion, now has six to her name after she and Paolini took Roland Garros—Paolini's first taste of a major victory. Her first doubles Grand Slam victory continues her phenomenal tennis run, which began last season, and it's not too premature to say that her run is far from over.
Jasmine Paolini's status as one of the top players on the WTA tour is more than deserved
The WTA is in a solid place right now as the tennis season hits the midway point of the year, and with Wimbledon looming just around the corner. If momentum truly is a thing to be believed in the world of sports, Paolini carries plenty of it.
She has been racking up the titles and finals appearances since early last year. Her doubles dominance with Errani began in May last year when the duo won a WTA 1000 title in Rome (which was followed up by a repeat performance this year) and an Olympic gold medal in Paris during the summer. Three more WTA 1000 titles followed.
Paolini is undoubtedly enjoying her doubles success, but that success has also translated into the singles arena. Last year, her breakout year, she reached two Grand Slam finals. This year, she has found success lately on the clay court surface, which eventually culminated in a title in Rome, propelling her to No. 4 in the WTA rankings.
Paolini will have her next big chance at a Grand Slam when the tennis masses descend on London. It should come as no surprise if she and Errani again find themselves at the end of the grand finale. Paolini should also not be counted out in the singles draw.
A singles Grand Slam is well within her reach, and in the middle of the hot stretch she is on, what better grounds to seal the deal on than the grounds of Wimbledon?