🔴 JUST IN: Jasmine Paolini SHOCKS Fans by ANNOUNCING RETIREMENT at 29 After Historic Win — ‘My Family Needs Me’
The world of tennis was shocked by unexpected news: Jasmine Paolini, the current Italian number one and one of the protagonists of the 2025 WTA season, announced her immediate retirement from professional competition at the age of 29, immediately after achieving a historic victory at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.
Just a few minutes after her extraordinary triumph in the final against world number one Iga Świątek, with the score of 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, Paolini took the microphone and, through tears, declared: “This was one of the most beautiful matches of my career, but also the last. My family needs me and I feel that the time has come to be there for them. Today I leave professional tennis.”
Her words left the audience at the Foro Italico speechless. Many spectators, still elated by the incredible victory against Świątek, could not believe their ears. They expected a thank you speech, not a farewell announcement.
An unforgettable triumph
Jasmine Paolini’s victory has been described by many experts as one of the greatest feats ever accomplished by an Italian tennis player on national soil. Defeating the dominator of the women’s circuit in a final on the center court in Rome represented the pinnacle of her career. Paolini thus became the first Italian to win the WTA 1000 title in Rome since Raffaella Reggi.
Yet, behind the success, there was a decision that had already matured.
The reasons for the withdrawal
Sources close to the athlete say that Paolini had been thinking about this choice for months, aggravated by personal problems and delicate family circumstances. Although she did not want to go into details, Jasmine always emphasized how attached she was to her family and her land, Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, in Tuscany.
“Tennis has given me so much, but now I feel the need to give back, to be there for those who have always believed in me,” she added in the subsequent press conference.
The tennis world reacts
The reactions were not long in coming. On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag #GrazieJasmine went viral in a few minutes. Champions like Ons Jabeur, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff expressed their surprise and admiration for Paolini’s courage. Iga Świątek, her opponent in the final, also wrote:
“I am shocked, but I deeply respect her choice. Jasmine is an example of strength, humility and passion. I wish her all the best.”
A legacy that endures
Paolini thus concludes a career built with sacrifice, determination and a deep love for the game. After years on the minor circuits, she finally exploded in 2023 and 2024, winning titles, climbing the world rankings and becoming a reference figure for Italian women’s tennis.
She has never forgotten her origins, often speaking fondly of her dual cultural identity (Italian and Polish), her passion for music, the simplicity of life away from the spotlight.
The future?
It is not known whether she will return to the world of tennis in another capacity: coach, ambassador, or perhaps commentator. What is certain is that her exit will not go unnoticed.
In her last post on Instagram, published shortly after the announcement, Paolini wrote:
“Thank you tennis, thank you Italy. Now I am going home, where there are those who have always believed in me. See you soon, with all my heart.”
With her last words on the court, Jasmine Paolini reminded us that even in the greatest victory, there are priorities that go beyond sport. And perhaps this is precisely what makes a true champion.
