Jasmine Paolini’s Bold Coaching Change: Why Hiring an Active ATP Player Is Shaking Up Women’s Tennis

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Key Takeaways

Jasmine Paolini’s coaching change involves hiring active ATP player Federico Gaio, a rare and bold move in women’s tennis.
This unconventional choice challenges traditional coaching roles and may inspire other WTA players to seek dynamic, on-the-ground partnerships.
Paolini’s move comes shortly after her split from Marc López, indicating her willingness to experiment for better results.
Hiring an active male player provides real-time insights into current men’s tour strategies, potentially giving Paolini a tactical edge.
This strategic decision could reshape coaching approaches across women’s tennis in the coming seasons.

Jasmine Paolini Makes a Surprising Coaching Move at the 2025 Canadian Open
Why the Change Matters
Who Is Federico Gaio?
Implications for Women’s Tennis
What This Means for Jasmine Paolini’s Career
In Summary
FAQ
Sources

Jasmine Paolini Makes a Surprising Coaching Move at the 2025 Canadian Open

Two-time Grand Slam finalist Jasmine Paolini has captured headlines again—not with her game this time, but through a bold coaching change that is turning heads across the tennis world. In July 2025, Paolini announced she hired Federico Gaio, an active ATP Tour player, as her new coach, following her split from Marc López, a former member of Rafael Nadal’s coaching team[1][4].

Why the Change Matters

Paolini’s decision to hire Gaio is remarkable for several reasons:

Unconventional Coaching Pick: Federico Gaio is unique in that he is still an active player himself, although he has not competed since 2024. This active player coaching a WTA star dynamic is rare and offers Paolini real-time insights into contemporary singles play on the ATP tour[1][4].
Parting from Established Expertise: Marc López, famous for his work with Rafael Nadal, coached Paolini for just three months before they parted ways earlier in July 2025, citing a mismatch despite the initial promise[2][3]. Paolini’s move away from such a high-profile coach indicates her willingness to experiment to find optimal synergy.
Strategic Timing: Paolini made this announcement just before the Canadian Open (also known as the National Bank Open), signalling her intent to approach key tournaments with fresh strategies and perspectives[4].

Who Is Federico Gaio?

Federico Gaio is an Italian ATP player with several years on tour experience, known for his tactical play. Despite being less internationally renowned than top ATP stars, Gaio brings a detailed, hands-on understanding of current men’s tour dynamics. His active status enables him to provide up-to-date match experience and strategy, potentially giving Paolini a diversified edge[1][4].

Implications for Women’s Tennis

Paolini’s coaching switch underscores a growing trend where WTA players explore non-traditional coaching setups to elevate performance. Hiring an active male player challenges conventional coaching roles and may inspire other players to seek dynamic, on-the-ground partnerships rather than solely established coaching veterans. This could reshape coaching approaches in women’s tennis going forward.

What This Means for Jasmine Paolini’s Career

Paolini is aiming to leverage this new partnership to refine her game, boost tactical adaptability, and enhance mental resilience heading into the remainder of the 2025 season. With the Canadian Open as a proving ground, all eyes will be on how quickly this fresh collaboration translates into on-court results.

In Summary

Jasmine Paolini’s decision to hire an active ATP player, Federico Gaio, as her coach after a short stint with Marc López is a bold and intriguing development in tennis coaching. It highlights her desire to innovate and adapt by embracing contemporary playing perspectives, a strategy that could set a precedent in the sport.

As Paolini embarks on this new chapter, tennis fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if this unconventional coaching alliance will propel her to new heights in the WTA rankings.