(VIDEO) Paolini's Italian Open Title Defense Ends in Third Round as Sinner Chases Historic Streak |
ROME — Jasmine Paolini's bid to defend her Italian Open title came to a disappointing end Saturday as the Italian favorite was knocked out in the third round by Belgium's Elise Mertens, while world No. 1 Jannik Sinner cruised into the fourth round and extended his remarkable Masters 1000 winning streak at the Foro Italico.
Paolini, the 2025 champion and a hometown hero, fell 6-4, 6-2 to the experienced Mertens in a match that highlighted the Belgian's tactical precision and Paolini's struggles to find rhythm on her favored clay surface. The loss marks an early exit for the 29-year-old Italian, who had hoped to use the home crowd energy to mount a deep run at this year's edition of the clay-court Grand Slam warm-up event.
Mertens, a veteran known for her consistency and strong baseline game, capitalized on Paolini's unforced errors and broke serve multiple times to secure a straightforward victory. The Belgian will now face a tough fourth-round opponent as the tournament continues to deliver high-quality matches under the Roman sun.
Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner continued his dominant form, dispatching his opponent in straight sets to advance deeper into the draw. The Italian superstar, fresh off impressive performances this season, remains unbeaten in Masters 1000 events stretching back several tournaments, a streak that has drawn comparisons to the sport's all-time greats. Sinner's powerful baseline game and improved movement on clay have made him the clear favorite to win his home Masters title this year.
Paolini's Early Exit........