Italian Underdog Jasmine Paolini Stuns Rybakina to Reach French Open Semis
On a gusty day at Roland Garros, Italian 12th seed Jasmine Paolini stunned fourth-seeded Kazakhstani Elena Rybakina in a captivating three-set battle to reach her maiden Grand Slam semi-final, prevailing 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
The 28-year-old Paolini, who has enjoyed a breakout season, showcased her resilience and shot-making prowess to weather the ebb and flow of the encounter, spanning over two hours and three minutes. Rybakina, the former Wimbledon champion, had been tipped as one of the favorites to challenge two-time defending champion Iga Swiatek for the title in Paris, but was unable to find her usual consistency in the face of Paolini’s determined performance.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Paolini remarked after the hard-fought victory. The Italian, who recently broke into the top-15 for the first time and claimed her maiden WTA 1000 title in Dubai, will now face either Russian Mirra Andreeva or Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals.
The match saw momentum shifts, with Paolini starting brightly by breaking Rybakina in the opening game and racing through her first three service games without dropping a point. However, Rybakina regained her footing in the second set, leveling the contest. The decider proved a battle of wits, as both players grappled with the challenging wind conditions, but it was Paolini who ultimately prevailed, breaking Rybakina at a crucial juncture to serve out the match and secure the biggest win of her career.
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