Paolini edges Osaka to reach Miami Open quarter-finals
The Italian came from a set down to set up a meeting with Coco Gauff or Magda Linette
Julien Nouet/TennisMajors
Italian Jasmine Paolini, the No 6 seed, edged out Japanese Naomi Osaka 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a high-quality contest at the Miami Open on Monday to move into the quarter-finals for the first time.
Paolini, ranked No 7, bounced back from the loss of the first set, grabbing the vital break in the fifth game of the decider to set up a meeting with American Coco Gauff, the No 3 seed, or Pole Magda Linette.
“I was smiling sometimes because she was playing too good,” Paolini said. “It was really tough to play against her, I’m so happy. It’s great to play these matches against these players.”
It’s the first time Paolini has won three matches in a row since the US Open last year and the Italian, runner-up at the French Open and Wimbledon last year, was delighted with her form.
“I’m really proud of how I managed to stay there after the first set,” Paolini told Sky Sports. “I’m trying not to compare one year to another but at the same time, the results I did last year have to give me confidence to play this year.”
The Italian defeated Slovak Rebecca Sramkova (6-4, 6-4) and Tunisian Ons Jabeur, the No 31 seed (4-3 ret.) in the previous rounds of the Miami tournament.
Earlier in the tournament, Osaka, ranked No 61, won against Ukrainian qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva (3-6, 6-4, 6-3), Russian Liudmila Samsonova, the No 24 seed (6-2, 6-4) and American wildcard Hailey Baptiste (7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-4).
Miami WTA 1000, other last 16 results (Hard Rock Stadium, hard, USD 8.963.700, most recent results first):
- Elina Svitolina vs. Iga Swiatek
- Alexandra Eala vs. Paula Badosa
- Marta Kostyuk vs. Jessica Pegula
- Emma Raducanu vs. Amanda Anisimova
- Coco Gauff vs. Magda Linette
- Aryna Sabalenka vs. Danielle Collins
- Qinwen Zheng vs. Ashlyn Krueger: monday
