International sports

I am fast because of Ghana – Jasmine Paolini speaks ahead of Wimbledon final

Ghanaian-Italian tennis star Jasmine Paolini has expressed pride in her Ghanaian heritage and roots, despite being a citizen of Italy.

She explained that her mother is Polish, with Ghanaian roots, and her grandfather hails from Ghana, making her proud of her Ghanaian blood.

Although born and bred in Italy, Jasmine appreciates her connection to Ghana and is delighted about it.

Speaking ahead of the Wimbledon finals, Jasmine attributed her speed as a tennis player to her Ghanaian heritage.

“I always say that for me, it’s important. I’m proud to have different bloodlines in my body. And of course, I feel Italian. I was born in Italy, so I’m Italian. I think it’s an important part of my life. My mom is Polish, but my grandfather is from Ghana.

“I think I am fast because of Ghana. Also, when I was younger, like ten years old, I spent every summer in Poland. I can speak Polish, and I think it’s an added asset as a person. It’s a plus. I’m really proud of it,” she said.

Jasmine emerged as the breakout star of the 2024 Wimbledon, following a phenomenal run in the Women’s singles.

She made history on Thursday, July 12, 2024, by defeating Donna Vekic to become the first Italian and Ghanaian to reach a Wimbledon Women’s singles final.

Jasmine achieved this historic feat in an exciting semi-final clash that ended 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10-8) in her favor.

This marks her second Grand Slam final in 2024, having previously lost at Roland Garros to Poland’s Iga Swiatek in June.

Paolini aims to win her first Grand Slam title on Saturday, July 13, 2024, when she faces 31st seed Barbora Krejcikova in the final.

What is Jasmine’s Ghanaian ancestry?

Twenty-eight-year-old Jasmine was born in Italy to an Italian father and a Polish mother, Jacqueline, who has Ghanaian roots.

Her Ghanaian heritage is linked to her mother, who was born in Lodz to a Ghanaian father and a Polish mother.

Jasmine has pledged her allegiance to Italy and represents the country in international tournaments.

She is set to compete in the same event for Italy at the 2024 Olympics in Paris alongside Sara Errani.

Watch the video below:

 

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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