2024 Wimbledon finalist, Jasmine Paolini, has attributed her speedy game to having a Ghanaian heritage.
The Ghanaian-Italian advanced to her first Wimbledon final after defeating Croatian Donna Vekic 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(8) on Thursday in the longest women's semi-final at the All England Club.
Paolini, who had never won a match at Wimbledon before this summer, is now one win away from lifting the Rosewater Dish.
While Paolini is not a Ghanaian by nationality, she has connections to West Africa. Her father, Ugo, is Italian, and her mother, Jacqueline, is of Polish and Ghanaian descent.
Paolini's Ghanaian heritage comes from her maternal grandfather, who hails from Ghana but lives in Copenhagen.
The 28-year-old holds all parts of her heritage close to her and believes that her fast-paced trait is attributable to her Ghanaian descent.
“I am proud to have different blood in my body. Of course, I feel Italian because I was born in Italy. My mum is Polish, but my grandfather is from Ghana and I think I am fast because of Ghana,” she said at Roland Garros in June 2024.
Moreover, in an interview with BNPParibasOpen.com in May 2024, she said:
“Ghanaian, maybe I feel like I’m fast on court. And I think that part of my family helped me. Maybe from Poland, I have the determination, maybe. But of course, I also have the Italian energy. It’s a mix. And I’m really proud of it.”
Paolini, who fell short in the French Open final in May, is now on the verge of making history as the first Ghanaian-Italian player, male or female, to win the Wimbledon singles title.
She will compete for this prestigious honour on Saturday, July 13 against 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova, who defeated Elena Rybakina in the second semi-final.
Latest Stories
-
CAF President blasts Ghana over Baba Yara stadium ban
2 mins -
GUTA calls for de-politicization of fight against galamsey
3 mins -
Police outlines guidelines for NDC’s nationwide demonstration against EC
18 mins -
Demystifying the claims of rip-offs and arbitrary charges in Ghana’s port sector—from the shipping lines perspective
29 mins -
EducationUSA: Ghanaian students in US benefit from $9 million Investment
43 mins -
Elections not about insults; be decent in your speech – Bawumia to Mahama
48 mins -
Reverse osmosis the most reliable way to filter water – Association of Packaged Water Producers
1 hour -
UG SRC Presidential Race: Court ruling has taught me a lot about life – Guru
1 hour -
Voazok Tours to hold Canada Agricultural Tour
1 hour -
Peace Council implements measures to ensure peaceful 2024 elections
1 hour -
Staff of banks involved in fraud increases by 46% in 2023; BoG expresses worry
2 hours -
NDC calls for public support for upcoming protest – W/R NDC Secretary
2 hours -
2024/25 GPL: Vision FC secure 2-0 maiden GPL win against Accra Lions
2 hours -
I didn’t pull a gun at DRIP commissioning – Gomoa West MP refutes allegations
2 hours -
Galamsey: Current effort doesn’t match the scale of crisis – Kenneth Ashigbey
2 hours