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Jasmine Paolini explains why Dubai feels ‘Weird’ to play

Originally posted on HITC | By Max Kilham | Last updated Feb 17, 2026 7:57 AM ET

Jasmine Paolini is looking to get her 2026 campaign going at the Dubai Tennis Championships, where she’ll open against Alexandra Eala on Tuesday.

Paolini has struggled to find rhythm early in the season, exiting in the third round of the Australian Open and then falling in her opening match at the Qatar Open.

Eala might be able to take advantage of those struggles when they meet on court.

Paolini will be hoping to find some of that form again when she takes on Eala.

Paolini explains why Dubai has a ‘weird’ feeling for her

Photo by IZHAR KHAN / AFP via Getty Images

The Dubai Tennis Championships return in 2026, and Jasmine Paolini’s already voiced some unusual feelings about playing there. She finds it strange how close fans are during matches, making it hard for her to settle into a rhythm.

“It feels a bit weird because I don’t like too much noise around,” she told SuperTennis. “Not even music because I can hear everything around.”

The proximity of fans isn’t new this year either; it’s been part of past events as well. Back in 2019, Halep had similar issues, pointing out that all courts are surrounded by stands with spectators positioned closely around them.

Jasmine Paolini’s 2024 Dubai Tennis Championships run

In 2024 Jasmine Paolini enjoyed a breakthrough year on the WTA Tour.

The Italian’s first significant tournament win came at the Dubai Tennis Championships. Paolini, unseeded at the event, defeated Beatriz Haddad Maia, Leylah Fernandez and Maria Sakkari on her way to the quarter-finals.

The Italian defeated Sorana Cirstea 6-2-7-6 in the semi-final setting up a clash with Anna Kalinskaya in the final.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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