THEthe path of Jasmine Paolini ends abruptly in the second round of Roland Garros. For the Italian champion it was a bitter day, May 27th, in front of the fans Paris. The number one player in Italian tennis, credited with the 13th seed in the draw, was forced to surrender in a comeback to the Argentine Solana Sierra, capable of prevail with the final score of 3-6 6-4 6-3. The match was decided by the violent flare-up of an ankle problem, the same physical torment that had already affected the day before and which forced the Tuscan tennis player into a medical timeout at the end of the match.
Jasmine Paolini at Roland Garros: the injury and that cry that was impossible to hide
Until 4-2 in the second set the match seemed like a pure formality, with the Italian tennis player in total control of the pace and exchanges on the Suzanne-Lenglen court. Then the sudden change of scenery: i Jasmine’s movements became stiffthe accelerations were less brilliant and the opponent quickly took over the field.
Jasmine Paolini suffering from injury at Roland Garros. (Getty Images)
Down 0-3 in the third set, the pain became unbearable, leading to crying loudly on the bench which showed the most human and vulnerable side of the champion. Not even the intervention of the physiotherapist and the immediate hiring of a powerful anti-inflammatory they were enough to get a now blocked joint back on its feet. Jasmine Paolini returned to the field with the courage of a lioness, but she had to playing the last games without his best supportgiving in only due to physical exhaustion.
How is Jasmine Paolini: the ghost of the Rome problem
The concern of the fans and the medical staff is linked above all to the nature of this stop. The one in Paris is not an isolated incident, but the extension of the injury suffered at the Italian Internationals. An insidious annoyance that had already pushed Jasmine Paolini to withdraw from the doubles tournament at the Foro Italico.
Jasmine Paolini’s frustration. (Getty Images)
Even the choice of do not take the court in Paris in the doubles alongside Sara Errani it was taken precisely so as not to overload the foot and concentrate all the energy on the singles scoreboard. To understand the real extent of the damage we will have to wait until instrumental exams in the next few hoursessential to exclude more serious structural injuries and to plan recovery times in view of the grass season.
The biggest obstacle: regaining confidence in the movements
For an athlete who makes rhythm, intensity and continuous sprints her winning weapons, physical impotence is the worst possible nightmare. Seeing his body freeze just as the board seemed to open towards the hot rounds of the Slam leave a deep psychological wound, often more complex to heal than joint damage.
In the tears of “Jas” on the sidelines there was all the frustration of those who feel they still have fuel in the engine but suddenly find themselves with the brakes on. Now the real game moves off the pitch: the staff will have to work to restore serenity to the Italian, helping her to find the stability in her supports and the mental freedom necessary to push to the maximum again, without the constant fear of a new misstep.
iO Donna © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
