The wonderful Roland Garros for the blue colors continues. After Matteo Arnaldi, Jannik Sinner and Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Jasmine Paolini also manages to reach the round of 16, replicating the result already obtained at the beginning of the year at the Australian Open. A victory against the Canadian Bianca Andreescu in three sets with the score of 6-1 3-6 6-0 in one hour and thirty-six minutes of play. A success that could have even been clearer if the Tuscan had taken advantage of the many opportunities she had in the second set.
Now for Paolini it really is there an extraordinary opportunity to reach the quarter-finals in a Slam for the first timegiven that she will face the Russian Elina Avenesyan, number 70 in the world, who surprisingly defeated the Chinese Qinwen Zheng, seeded number seven, at the end of a crazy battle lasting almost three hours 3-6 6-3 7-6.
Returning to the match, Paolini obtained 71% of the points when he served the first serve, also taking advantage of Andreescu’s service difficulties (under 50% with both the first and second serves). There are more winners for the Canadian (29 against 26), but also more unforced errors (24 against 14).
The first set is a monologue from the blue girl. Sparkling start for Jasmine, who immediately breaks serve in the second game to the Canadian. Andreescu continues to make mistakes, while on the other side of the net Paolini concedes nothing and has full control of the exchanges. A new break arrives in the fourth game for the Tuscan, who flies to 4-0. Andreescu manages to shorten it in the fifth game, but in the next one comes another break for Paolini, who on the second occasion finds a splendid forehand to go up 5-1. The Italian closed the first half at 6-1 in just twenty-eight minutes.
Paolini has the opportunity to extend his lead almost immediately in the second set, having a break point in the third game, which Andreescu cancels with an ace. The set will most likely be decided in the seventh game, where Paolini doesn’t take advantage of four break points and above all on the second there are regrets for the forehand error. Unfortunately, the Tuscan suffered from the missed opportunity and lost serve in the next game, failing to land a really comfortable forehand on an open court. The Canadian wins the second set 6-3.
Despite the set lost in that daring way, Paolini doesn’t let himself be carried away by negative energy and starts very strong in the third. The break comes immediately in the second game after an extraordinary defense and a miraculous backhand recovery. The Italian never stops again and breaks her opponent’s serve again in the fourth game, escaping with a 4-0 lead. There’s really no more match and Jasmine gets another break, closes 6-0 and flies to the round of 16.
