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Jasmine Paolini—finally!—gets her elusive photo with Rafael Nadal

The smiling snapshot was accompanied by a heartfelt tribute from Paolini to Nadal, whom she described as a "true inspiration to me and sports fans everywhere."

ByBaseline Staff

Published Nov 20, 2024

HOT SHOT: Jasmine Paolini dazzles at BJK Cup Finals with nifty backhand drop volley

Achievement unlocked! After months of searching, Jasmine Paolini has finally snagged her long-awaited photo with Rafael Nadal.

The Italian, one of 2024's breakthrough players, made no secret of her desire for a selfie with the all-time great this year, even going so far as to say that getting a photo with Nadal was a goal on par with winning a medal at the Paris Olympics. Though she failed in her quest in France (for the photo, not the medal), she picked up the baton this week in Malaga, where both she and Nadal were representing their respective nations in the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup.

As Nadal arrived at the venue for the final tournament of his career, Paolini sneakily snuck a snapshot of herself watching him practice in the days leading up to Spain's quarterfinal tilt against the Netherlands, joking that she was "getting closer" to the perfect shot.

Read more: Jasmine Paolini still on the hunt for ‘legendary selfie’ with Rafael Nadal in Malaga

And while it was unclear exactly when Paolini finished the job, the Italian picked the perfect moment to reveal the photo of the two together on Tuesday in the aftermath of Nadal's final match on tour.

"Finally, I got the picture!" a thrilled Paolini wrote alongside the smiling snapshot on Instagram. It was accompanied by a heartfelt tribute from Paolini to Nadal, whom she described as a "true inspiration to me and sports fans everywhere."

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"Your grit, passion, and heart on the court have given us so many unforgettable moments," the world No. 4 wrote. "Wishing you all the best as you close out this incredible career and head into the next chapter, may it be filled with as much joy, health, and success as you’ve given to all of us!"

"Thank you for everything, legend!" she added, with a goat emoji representing the acronym for "greatest of all time."

Read more: 'Your old friend is always cheering for you': Roger Federer pens letter to retiring Rafael Nadal

Paolini has a chance to finish her week in Malaga on the highest of notes as she and the rest of the Italian team face Slovakia for the Billie Jean King Cup on Wednesday. Italy is seeking its first title in the competition since 2013.