‘It’s a joke’: Italian tennis star crowned world champion after winning Olympic gold, can hardly believe her own success

2024 has been a breakthrough year for Italian tennis, and Jasmine Paolini, in particular, has had a season to remember. The 28-year-old capped off a remarkable year by securing Italy’s first Billie Jean King Cup title in 11 years, clinching the decisive match against Slovakia to seal the win for her country.

This victory was the culmination of a stunning season for Paolini, which included several major accomplishments. In 2024, she won her first WTA 1000 singles title at the Dubai Tennis Championships, added two WTA 1000 doubles titles, and earned Olympic doubles gold. She also reached three Grand Slam finals, two in singles and one in doubles. These achievements propelled her to a career-high No. 4 world ranking in singles, tying the highest-ever ranking for an Italian woman. In doubles, she reached No. 9, marking another personal milestone.

When asked by CNN Sport’s Amanda Davies to reflect on her extraordinary year, Paolini could hardly believe her own success. “It’s a joke,” she said with a laugh, adding, “To finish like that is the perfect ending. I’m really happy.” Reflecting on Italy’s Billie Jean King Cup victory, she said, “Last year, we lost in the final; this year, we won the title and it’s amazing.” She admitted that at the start of the tournament, she hadn’t set her sights on the title. “It’s a long tournament, and anything can happen, so today I’m really happy we have this trophy in our hands.”

The Billie Jean King Cup, formerly known as the Fed Cup, is a prestigious women’s team event where countries compete in best-of-three ties, consisting of two singles and a doubles match. Italy’s path to the final included victories over Japan in the quarterfinals and Poland in the semifinals. In the final, Italy triumphed 2-0 over Slovakia, with Lucia Bronzetti defeating Viktória Hrunčáková and Paolini securing the title with a dominant 6-2, 6-1 win over Rebecca Šramková. This victory was especially sweet for Paolini, who had experienced the heartbreak of losing in last year’s final to Canada.

While Paolini’s success has largely come in doubles in 2024, she has not done it alone. On the court beside her has been the steadying presence of Sara Errani, a veteran who completed her 22nd year as a professional tennis player. Errani, a doubles specialist and former world No. 1, has enjoyed a distinguished career, including winning the career “Golden Slam” in doubles, having claimed all four Grand Slam titles and Olympic gold. While Errani has found more success in doubles, she has also been a strong competitor on the singles circuit, winning nine titles and reaching the French Open final in 2012.

This year’s Billie Jean King Cup marked Errani’s fourth victory in the tournament, and the first in 11 years. Her experience has been invaluable to the Italian team, especially in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she and Paolini were undefeated in their national team kit. “It’s really special,” Errani said of lifting the trophy once again. “It’s amazing. It’s been a great week, and I’m really proud. We had a lot of fun, we played good tennis. We are so happy.” She continued, “This year we didn’t lose with the Italian t-shirt, so it’s been amazing. It’s a dream come true, and playing for our country is always really special. I give everything—it’s so special. We’re really proud.”

The chemistry between Paolini and Errani on the court has been instrumental to Italy’s success in 2024. Both players have been key contributors, with their strong partnership proving to be one of the best in international tennis. Their triumph in the Billie Jean King Cup, combined with their Olympic success and impressive Grand Slam runs, has solidified their place as one of the top tennis duos in the world.

For Paolini, 2024 has been a year of personal growth and achievement. From winning her first WTA 1000 title to securing Olympic gold, she has proven herself to be one of the best players on the tour. And with her No. 4 ranking in singles and No. 9 in doubles, she is now firmly established as one of Italy’s brightest tennis stars.

Paolini and Errani’s partnership has elevated Italian tennis, with their victory in the Billie Jean King Cup signaling the continued success of Italy’s women’s tennis program. As Paolini looks ahead to the future, her success in 2024 is sure to serve as a launching pad for even more triumphs in the years to come. For now, though, she can savor the sweet feeling of a career-defining season, one that she will remember for the rest of her life.