An unreal silence enveloped the lateral exit of the San Raffaele hospital in Milan when Jasmine Paolini appeared, visibly proven, accompanied by the mother. The few present, unaware of what was happening, immediately understood that something was wrong. The Italian tennis player, back from a difficult sport, let himself go to a desperate cry in the mother’s arms, whispering five words that, according to the witnesses, “would have broken the heart of anyone.”
2025 should have been the year of the final consecration for Jasmine Paolini. After the 2024 exploit, culminating with an extraordinary final at Roland Garros, expectations against him were very high. However, media pressure, physical problems and a series of early eliminations in the most important tournaments have transformed what was supposed to be a triumphant season into a descending spiral.
Sources close to the tennis player team tell of anxiety crisis, difficulty in resuming mental rhythm and growing frustration. “He never felt herself in the field,” said a member of the technical staff. “His days were full of silences, interrupted training and a constant feeling of bewilderment.”
According to what has been leaked, after some worrying episodes that took place during the last tournament in Stuttgart, Paolini was emerged in the hospital for investigations. Specialists would have diagnosed a “serious psychological trauma from acute sports stress”, an increasingly frequent condition among high -level athletes, but still too often underestimated.
The doctor who followed his case made a short statement: “Jasmine needs time, silence and support. His body is healthy, but the mind has asked for help. It is an important signal that nobody has to ignore.”
A source close to the family revealed that, as soon as she left the hospital, Paolini abandoned himself in the mother’s arms and whispered:
“I don’t know who I am anymore.”
Simple but devastating words, which tell more than any press release. The mother, deeply hit, chose to share her concern by publishing a post on Instagram, accompanied by a black and white photo that portrays Jasmine as a child, with the caption:
“Even strong hearts sometimes break. Help them listen to each other, not only to win.”
The post collected hundreds of thousands of likes in a few hours, and the fans immediately mobilized with messages of support and love. “You are a warrior, Jasmine”, “Your health comes first”, “you made us dream, now you dream of your peace”: they are just some of the comments that appeared.
The news of the Jasmine crisis made the ride of the changing rooms of the international tournaments. Many colleagues, including Aryna Sabalenka, Ons Jabeur and even Rafael Nadal, have expressed their support. “Tennis is a cruel sport, and we often forget that there is a fragile person behind every athlete,” Nadal said to Eurosport microphones.
According to unconfirmed rumors, the WTA is also considering a more structured psychological support protocol for players who face periods of crisis.
Despite the dark moment, some voices close to Jasmine Paolini claim that he has not yet decided to stop completely. There are those who speak of a long break from the fields, who instead of a possible return already in 2026, perhaps with a new team and a different vision of the career.
The historical coach, who preferred to remain anonymous, said: “I know Jasmine. He needs to find himself, but he will come back. And he will do it with fire in the eyes.”
Italian tennis squeezes around its star, waiting for the clouds to thin out. For now, Jasmine Paolini needs time, space and love. And if it is true that the force is measured in the ability to get up, it is to be bet that his next victory will not be on a tennis court, but within himself.
