Katie Boulter’s promising run at the Merida Open ended Saturday with a 0-6, 6-3, 6-3 defeat to top-seeded Jasmine Paolini, despite a dominant start that saw the British number three win the first set to love.
The 29-year-old Boulter, who had been on a seven-match winning streak including a title win at the Ostrava Open, initially overwhelmed world number seven Paolini, taking the first set in just 28 minutes. Paolini managed to win only three points on her serve during the opening set and didn’t register a winner until trailing 40-0 at 5-0, according to reports from Sky Sports.
The momentum shifted dramatically in the second set. Paolini held serve for the first time in the match and then broke Boulter to grab a 3-1 lead. Boulter immediately broke back, but the ensuing games saw both players struggle to hold, with Paolini ultimately securing the set and leveling the match.
The deciding set began with Paolini racing to a 2-0 advantage. While Boulter managed to break back and briefly lead 3-2, the Italian responded strongly, winning four consecutive games to close out the match and advance to the semi-finals.
“It was a really tough one – Katie, the first set she was smashing every ball and hitting a winner everywhere,” Paolini told Sky Sports after the match. “I was telling myself to play more deep in the court and hit the ball harder because I had to raise the level to endeavor and win the match and in the end it worked out.” Paolini also emphasized the importance of maintaining composure, stating, “I was trying to be calm, to suppose what I had to do. I think when you’re nervous you can’t find the solutions.”
Paolini, a finalist at both the 2024 Wimbledon and French Open, will now await her opponent in the semi-finals. Boulter’s defeat brings an end to her impressive winning streak and her hopes for a title at the Merida Open.
