Rome, May 8: Defending champion Jasmine Paolini faced a tough challenge in her opening match at the Italian Open, defeating qualifier Liolia Jinjin 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-4 to secure her place in the third round. The thrilling match lasted for 2 hours and 55 minutes.
The ninth-seeded Italian star had a rocky performance in front of her home crowd, hitting 54 winners but also committing 57 unforced errors. Her inconsistent play kept the audience on an emotional rollercoaster, as they hoped to see their top-ranked player advance.
In a post-match press conference, Paolini admitted, “I was a bit nervous. There were many ups and downs. She played a great match. It was a tough contest, but I’m glad I held my ground and managed to come back after the first tough set.”
Paolini attempted to take control early in the match, breaking Jinjin’s serve three times in the first set and serving for the set at 5-3. However, the French qualifier quickly retaliated each time, denying the reigning champion any chance to find her rhythm.
Utilizing her sharp backhand winners and excellent touch at the net, Paolini also made some errors. Her inability to maintain momentum during the tiebreak ultimately cost her the first set, which Jinjin claimed with aggressive play.
Despite her fluctuating performance, Paolini’s tenacity proved decisive. The match featured several long and ‘multi-deuce’ battles, with the Italian player seizing crucial moments. After gaining a lead in the second set, she achieved a significant breakthrough in the deciding set at 4-3, following a grueling ‘seven-deuce’ game on Jinjin’s serve. Paolini will face 21st seed Elise Mertens in the next round.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
