Jasmine Paolini has suffered a heartbreaking defeat against Elina Svitolina at the French Open.
Paolini was one of the French Open favourites coming into this year’s tournament, particularly as last year’s finalist.
The Italian came into the French Open this year in strong form, with Paolini winning the Rome Masters title for the first time in her career.
Despite the expectations, Paolini has seen her singles run at the French Open come to a crushing end against Svitolina.
Chris Evert thinks she knows why Jasmine Paolini lost to Elina Svitolina
Paolini led Svitolina, 6-4 5-4 40-15, but was unable to convert either of her two match points and was forced into a tie-break.
The world number four had another match point in this tie-break, but Svitolina held strong once again to force a deciding set.
There appeared to be a bit of a hangover for Paolini in this third set, as Svitolina raced to a 6-1 victory to book her place in the quarter-finals.
Seven-time French Open champion Chris Evert, who was on commentary for TNT Sports, gave her assessment of Paolini’s performance after the match.
In her judgement of the match, Evert suggested that Paolini looked like she was feeling the pressure of being one of the favourites for the title and had done so from the start of the tournament.
“Unbelievable,” said Evert. “I mean Paolini, there were two different players playing in that match, the first set and a half there was a brilliant player, and the second set and a half there was a player that lost confidence, looked a little tight and got a little messy with some of her errors.
“But all credit to Svitolina for having that perseverance and really hanging in there and having a great attitude, she’s a fighter.
“Paolini just so disappointed like you said. Look, there’s a target on her back now, there’s a different pressure. I don’t know if she’s going to admit it or not, but there wasn’t the joy and the exuberance and the smiles this whole tournament like there was last year and that says a lot about what pressure can do to your game.”
What is next for Jasmine Paolini?
Although Paolini is no longer in the singles draw at the French Open, she will still have ambitions in the doubles draw alongside Sara Errani.
Paolini and Errani, who finished as runners-up last year, are the second seeds at this year’s tournament and have already reached the third round.
In terms of singles competition, Paolini will now turn her attention to the grass court season where she also has multiple points to defend as the 2024 Wimbledon finalist.
The 29-year-old will begin her grass court season at the Berlin Open, before remaining in Germany to play another WTA 500 tournament in Bad Homburg.
Paolini will then head to Wimbledon, as she looks to put this Grand Slam defeat to Svitolina behind her.
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