An interview with:
JASMINE PAOLINI
THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the Media Day press conference for Jasmine Paolini. Questions, please.
Q. Have you hit on the court the yet here in Wuhan?
JASMINE PAOLINI: Yeah, today, because yesterday was raining. They are slow. All the ball are getting big. So it's a bit different from Beijing. But we try to adapt as soon as possible because tomorrow I play.
Q. Once you adapt to the conditions, do you think they are conditions beneficial to your game or ones that you will have to fight against a little bit?
JASMINE PAOLINI: I think I have to adjust a little bit because here the ball, it's bouncing a lot. Maybe I have to try to use more the spin.
But we have to try soon because tomorrow there's the match. It's not going to be easy, of course, because I have just one day. It's okay. I mean, it's good to arrive late to enter the next tournament. It means you did something good at the last one.
We try to adapt and give the 100% tomorrow.
Q. I can't remember if you played this tournament.
JASMINE PAOLINI: No.
Q. Your first time here?
JASMINE PAOLINI: Yes.
Q. What is it like to be at a tournament the first time?
JASMINE PAOLINI: Yeah, it's really nice here. I've never been, as I said. I didn't know that it's that slow. Beijing was slow actually, but here is slower.
I like the facilities. They're amazing. The stadium, I didn't see the stadium, the main one. From outside, it's one of the best I've ever seen in tennis.
Hopefully it's going to be nice this week. Hopefully... It depends of the tennis, how the match are going. If the match going good, then the tournament is really good (laughter).
No, but the place is really good, yeah.
Q. The China Open final, a lot of crowds are cheering for you guys. Maybe here in Wuhan, because you face a Chinese player Yuan Yue in the second round, what do you expect for your match tomorrow?
JASMINE PAOLINI: I hope everyone is cheering for her, of course. I mean, I'm sure everyone is going to cheer for her, but it's okay.
I mean, when we are in Rome, they're cheering for me. Here we are in Wuhan, so it's normal. It's also nice to have some people cheering in tennis. I think it's nice for sport as well.
I don't expect that they are going to cheer for me. But it's okay. It's tennis. It's sport. I hope the stadium, it's going to be full of people because it's nice, as I said, for our sport.
Q. In terms of the quick turnaround, energy, all of that stuff, you said last week you put the foot on the gas and go. How much gas is in the tank right now? Do you have to manage it?
JASMINE PAOLINI: It's not easy because every tournament is different. You have to reset. I came yesterday here. I have to adapt. I have to find energies.
But we try to always do the same things. Also I think today I'm going to prepare the match with my coach, to speak a little bit about the energy, about how I have to play tomorrow because it's going to be a tough match.
I play against her last year in Beijing. Was really tough match. So I don't expect an easy match for sure. We have to try to put all the energy that I have into the match, just fight and just try to find the solution and the way to try to win the match.
It's not going to be easy, especially at this time of the year.
THE MODERATOR: Chinese questions.
Q. Your great performance at the China Open, very good. With such good physicality, mentality, do you have any expectations for the Wuhan Open?
JASMINE PAOLINI: You know, I try to keep the expectation low because I just came yesterday. As I said, Yue Yuan is going to be a tough opponent for me. I played last year against her in Beijing. Was a really tough match. I have to adapt to the conditions here that are different from the last week.
But I hope that tomorrow I'm going to play a good match with a lot of energy, trying to put all the energy into the match and try to fight every point. I try to keep the expectation low but try to give my 100% for tomorrow.
Q. With the great performance in the doubles, as well as singles, doubles championship in Rome, the Olympics, as well as Beijing, do you have plans to work with your partner in the doubles next year?
JASMINE PAOLINI: I think so, yes. I think we're going to play, as well, next year. I really enjoyed to play this year. We achieved the gold medal. We won two 1000. We won in Rome, our country. I think I did a really nice experience in doubles this year.
I hope to play also next year because I think it help me a lot also in singles. I hope that I can still improve something in doubles and in singles.
I think doubles can help me with the serve, return, volleys, which is important also for singles. I try to, yeah, try to play next year, as well.
Q. Can you talk about your goal for the end of the year.
JASMINE PAOLINI: My goal for the end of the year at the moment is to qualify for WTA Finals. It's a big, big thing for a tennis player. We try to push this two last tournament of the year, here and Ningbo, get the points to play the WTA Finals. If I can achieve it, it's going to be a really, really nice goal for the season.
Also the main goal is to enjoy playing tennis, enjoy the competition, the tournament, trying to stay at this higher level for as long as possible.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports