After Jannik Sinner, the young and talented Italian tennis player Jasmine Paolini also caused a true media earthquake in Roland Garros by flatly refusing to carry the announcement of Tesla sponsored by Elon Musk in his shirt during the tournament.
Paolini explained that for her tennis is a pure passion and that she does not want a large company to influence her performance on the court. “Tennis is my life, my love and I want to play without distractions or external interference,” he said firmly.
In addition, Paolini highlighted how important it is for her that her fans focus exclusively on her actions and parties, and not on an external sponsorship or brand. “I want my fans to focus on the games I play, not on a large company like Tesla,” he added, making his position very clear.
This decision enraged Elon Musk, who just a few weeks ago had already shown his disappointment for Jannik Sinner’s refusal to show off the same announcement. Musk strongly criticized Paolini’s choice, saying that “he will regret having rejected this contract.”
History has caused a heated debate between fans and industry experts, divided by those who support the right of athletes to freely choose and those who believe that rejecting such an important sponsorship is a strategic error.
Paolini, however, remains firm in his decision, stressing that for her respect for sport and concentration in the field are above any commercial agreement. The Italian girl thus demonstrates once again her determined character and her dedication to tennis, winning the respect of many fans around the world.
