Paolini's Italian Open title defence ends ahead of Sinner bow / Photo: Tiziana FABI - AFP
-
Google Smart Glasses Privacy: Bystander Face Removal Limits
-
San Onofre Demolition Highlights California’s Nuclear Energy Void
-
Egypt and Vietnam Explore Manufacturing and Technology Transfer Partnerships
-
2026 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards: Air Time, Channels, and Streaming Guide
-
Hilton Phoenix Resort to Open Emberance Restaurant Inspired by Sonoran Desert
-
Kuwaitis Elected to Senior Leadership Roles at ALECSO
-
Canva Craft vs ChatGPT: Head-to-Head AI Image Generation Test
-
BingX: Major Announcement of Far-Reaching Significance
-
TikTok Security Chief Advises SMBs on Free Cybersecurity Protections
-
Tamil Nadu Commission Reviews Rs 1.14 Lakh Crore Investment MoUs, Seeks Subsidy Boost
-
UCLA Stays Unbeaten With Ty Dieffenbach's Heroic Return Against Illinois
-
Sakeliga Challenges Icasa Over Telecoms BEE Ownership Rule
-
Marco Rubio Praises Daughter Daniella’s Speech at Federalist Society Convention
Paolini's Italian Open title defence ends ahead of Sinner bow
Jasmine Paolini's defence of her Italian Open title came to an early end on Saturday after the home favourite was knocked out in the third round by Elise Mertens, as Jannik Sinner bids to continue his record-breaking Masters 1000 winning streak.
Local favourite Paolini was beaten 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 by Mertens following an error-strewn performance in front of disappointed fans on centre court.
The 30-year-old is set to drop out of the top 10 of the women's world rankings after failing to reach the fourth round of a fourth consecutive tournament.
Paolini won both the women's singles and doubles tournaments in Rome last year but she has looked a shadow of that player this season with a string of early exits.
Her fate turned on her failure to capitalise on three match points against the serve at 6-5 in the second set, after which she lost the first two points of the tie-break and never recovered from there.
Mertens, who lost last year's women's doubles final to Paolini and Sara Errani, could face eighth seed Mirra Andreeva in the next round.
Coco Gauff, beaten by Paolini in last year's singles final, took over two hours to beat Argentina's Solana Sierra 5-7, 6-0, 6-4.
The world number four and reigning French Open champion will face either her fellow American Taylor Townsend, a qualifier, or Iva Jovic in the next round.
Gauff has struggled on clay this season, with a last-16 exit in the Madrid Open coming after a disappointing run to the quarter-finals in Stuttgart.
The 22-year-old is on the same side of the draw as world number one Aryna Sabalenka, who faces Romania's Sorana Cirstea.
Sinner will take to an expectant centre court later on Saturday as a hot favourite to extend his run of five consecutive Masters 1000 tournament victories.
Austria's Sebastian Ofner stands in the way of Sinner winning a 24th straight match, with few expecting anything more than a rapid victory in straight sets.
No Italian man has won at the Foro Italico since Adriano Panatta 50 years ago, and with Carlos Alcaraz out of action Sinner is expected to go one better than last year when he lost the final to his great rival.
Former winner Daniil Medvedev will begin his campaign in the third round after his match, which was scheduled to be the first on centre court, was shelved after his opponent Tomas Machac pulled out of the tournament with an unspecified illness.
F.Moura--PC
