Jasmine Paolini secured a hard-fought opening-round victory at the US Open, defeating Slovenia’s Veronika Erjavec 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 on the Louis Armstrong court, according to match reports. Seeded 19th in the tournament, the Italian player returned to the circuit after an absence of nearly two months, having last played in the Wimbledon quarterfinals on July 8. With this three-set win, Paolini advances to the second round to face fellow Italian Lucrezia Stefanini.
Paolini Navigates Rust and Tension After Two-Month Layoff
The match marked Paolini’s first competitive appearance since the summer grass-court major. According to her post-match interview with Sky Sport, the 19th seed admitted to feeling significant pre-match tension. “Before the match I warmed up and I was a bit tensed,” Paolini told Sky Sport, adding that her legs felt heavy and movement was difficult during the toughest phases of the match. Despite committing 36 unforced errors overall, Paolini relied on her superior experience at the tour level against Erjavec, the world No. 106 who rarely contests major tournament main draws.
After recovering from an early break to claim the opening set, Paolini suffered a dip in performance that allowed Erjavec to level the match in the second. In the deciding third set, the Italian tightened her baseline game and found more success on serve. Erjavec struggled to hold throughout the encounter, dropping her serve seven times and handing Paolini 17 break opportunities. Paolini acknowledged the mental reset that helped her through the decider, noting that she reminded herself to relax and bring renewed energy to the court.
An All-Italian Second-Round Showdown Against Stefanini
Waiting for Paolini in the next round is Lucrezia Stefanini, who booked her spot in the second round with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 victory over Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska. Stefanini, a 28-year-old qualifier, delivered an impressive performance to claim only the second main-draw victory of her Grand Slam career, following her previous win at the 2023 Australian Open against Tatjana Maria. Stefanini dominated the final set against Yastremska by securing three breaks of serve.
Reflecting on her return to competition, Paolini emphasized her enduring passion for the sport during her time away. “I like to play tennis a lot, I missed it this month,” Paolini told Sky Sport, mentioning that she watched matches on television, including compatriot Flavio Cobolli in Cincinnati. With the first hurdle cleared, Paolini stated her clear objective for the remainder of the fortnight: “I missed competing, but now I want to raise the level.”
Did you know? Jasmine Paolini’s victory over Veronika Erjavec marks her first match win on tour since her run to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon on July 8.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who did Jasmine Paolini defeat in the first round of the US Open?
Paolini defeated Slovenian Veronika Erjavec with a score of 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
Who is Jasmine Paolini’s next opponent at the US Open?
Paolini will face fellow Italian Lucrezia Stefanini in an all-Italian second-round match.
How did Lucrezia Stefanini reach the second round?
Stefanini advanced through the qualifying rounds and subsequently defeated Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska in three sets (6-3, 4-6, 6-1).
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