Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 6:38 PM GMT+5·3 min read
Italian world number four Jasmine Paolini reached the French Open and Wimbledon finals before winning Olympics doubles gold in a breakout 2024
I’ve heard that ‘height’ is one of the most popular things that comes up next to my name in internet searches.
That’s because I’m 5ft 4in. It’s pretty unique because most of the players on the WTA Tour are a lot taller.
I heard that the average height of the top 10 players is about 5ft 10in. I’m also told I am the smallest player in the top 20.
But it’s not something I worry about—I just try to play tennis and concentrate on my game.
Being smaller means I have different weapons than a taller player. We work with what we have, you know!
I move pretty well on the court; people generally say that is my biggest strength.
Ever since I was a child, I have been quick and nimble.
I remember being at the tennis club when I was young and doing some training sessions. We did sprinting drills, and I was one of the fastest people then.
Jasmine Paolini is the shortest player in the top 10, and 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina is the tallest at 6ft – but Paolini leads 3-2 in their head-to-head
I can also hit strong groundstrokes – with both my forehand and backhand. I might be short, but I can hit the ball strong.
When I was young, it used to annoy my coach that I missed too many shots from the baseline because I enjoyed hitting the ball so hard.
Sometimes, my practice is still like that – I love to hit the ball hard even if I know it is going out!
I also try to do more than my opponents to ensure I’m there at every point.
I emphasize fighting for every ball and also enjoying the matches.
I try to remember that it is just a game. You can win or you can lose, but you have to give 100% every time. Otherwise, there is no point in being there.
Don’t let people stop you achieving your dreams
Earlier in my career, I also lacked a bit of self-belief against more prominent players.
Sometimes, when I played a taller player with a strong serve, I wished I could do the same.
But then I realized it was silly and useless to think like that.
If I were taller, would I have had the same career and achieved what I’m achieving now? I don’t know. I would be a different person and a different player.
Now I’m relaxed about being smaller; I don’t care.
As a child, I was of a similar height to the other girls, but then I stopped growing!
