French Open 2024: Jasmine Paolini must block out 'intimidation factor' and 'embrace' Iga Swiatek challenge - Tim Henman

ByAlasdair Mackenzie

Published 07/06/2024 at 22:11 GMT

Jasmine Paolini will step on court for the first major final of her career on Saturday. Awaiting her is three-time French Open champion and world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, but Eurosport expert Tim Henman says the Italian must ignore the "intimidation factor" of facing the world No. 1 and "play the ball" instead. The French Open final is live on Eurosport and discovery+ on Saturday, June 8.

Jasmine Paolini “has to believe” and not let “the intimidation factor” affect her when she faces Iga Swiatek in the French Open final on Saturday, says Tim Henman.

The Italian’s stunning run to the showpiece match at Roland-Garros has been the story of the tournament.

Paolini, 28, had never made it beyond the fourth round of a Grand Slam event before arriving in Paris, but took down fourth seed Elena Rybakina in the last eight before motoring past Mirra Andreeva in the semi-finals.

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However, she now faces her toughest challenge yet against three-time French Open champion and world No. 1 Swiatek, who has been in rampant form in Paris.

“Paolini has to believe she has a chance,” Henman said on Eurosport’s French Open coverage.

“The odds are heavily against her the way Swiatek has been playing, she’s just so tough to play on clay.

French Open highlights - Paolini reaches maiden final with victory over Andreeva

“But Paolini is playing exceptionally well this year. She’s through to the final, has nothing to lose and lots to gain.

“One of the important aspects for the final is to play the ball. The intimidation factor is enormous. I think she must embrace the challenge and give it her best shot.”

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Clay-court expert Swiatek is bidding for her fourth French Open crown and her third in a row when the pair meet on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Saturday.

The Pole leads her head-to-head with Paolini 2-0, and she has only dropped one set in the tournament, against Naomi Osaka in a second-round thriller.

However, Eurosport expert Mats Wilander believes that the Italian will offer something different, which could work to her advantage.

“Everyone thinks Iga is the clear, clear, clear favourite. But Paolini moves very well, hits the ball hard, has an unbelievably good forehand with plenty of spin so it’s a different style Iga Swiatek is facing in the final,” said Wilander.

“We know she will have confidence on Philippe-Chatrier but I think it might be closer than it looks on paper.

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“I think Paolini will only spend maybe five to 10 minutes to understand what she has to do and from that point she has to play more aggressively than she did today. More aggressive than in any other match then she has probably played in her whole life.

“It’s a very, very difficult situation when you don’t have a big serve and win points, but she’s in the finals for the first time. Who knows? Maybe she wins two Grand Slams [including doubles] before she’s done. Maybe we haven’t seen the best of Paolini yet.”

Paolini is having the fortnight of her dreams, having reached the women’s doubles final too alongside partner and compatriot Sara Errani.

Her time in Paris has been the highlight of what has been a fantastic season so far for the world No. 15, who won the Dubai WTA 1000 title in February, and Alex Corretja has been impressed by what he has seen.

“Paolini has been very smart, she moves very well,” said the Spaniard.

“She mixes it up with her backhand and forehand. She is very consistent and clever when she plays. We will have a nice final and we will enjoy it.

Making a Grand Slam final ‘seems something impossible’, says Paolini

“Of course, you never know. I mean the good thing from Paolini is that she can play solid from the baseline and she can hit hard with the forehand. I think most of the girls sometimes either hit very hard or are very solid, but I think Paolini has a great combination and maybe she can hurt Iga.

“But Iga has been moving so well, of course the experience can help a lot. But maybe Paolini will say, okay I’m going to go for it, and I don’t care that much. We will see. I think it will be interesting but if Iga has her feet on the ground, it will be very tough to beat her.”

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You can watch every day of the 2024 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+.

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