MIAMI — Jasmine Paolini`s 2024 season has been defined by remarkable consistency. Following strong runs at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, where she reached the finals, Paolini has broken into the Top 10 at age 28.
The subsequent period has presented new challenges, as Paolini acknowledges the shift in expectations and the loss of the element of surprise.
After Ons Jabeur retired in their third-round match, Paolini reached the round of 16 for the fourth time this year. Having previously been defeated at this stage in Doha, Dubai, and Indian Wells, Miami offered a chance to break through.
On Monday at the Miami Open, Paolini achieved this breakthrough with a resilient 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Naomi Osaka in 2 hours and 15 minutes. The No. 6 seed Paolini will now face the winner of the match between No. 3 Coco Gauff and Magda Linette in the quarterfinals.
This marks Paolini`s first sequence of three consecutive wins in 2024. Her record against former WTA No. 1 players improves to 3-8, with all three wins occurring this year against Angelique Kerber and Karolina Pliskova. It was also her first victory against a former Grand Slam champion in her last five attempts.
Paolini`s resilience was evident early in the match, holding serve in a nine-minute opening game where she saved five break points.
Ultimately, Paolini saved an impressive 12 of 15 break points while converting three of five opportunities on Osaka`s serve.
Osaka stated she returned to tennis with high ambitions, not to be just an average player. Fifteen months after maternity leave, she is demonstrating glimpses of her past top form.
However, Osaka recognized that facing Paolini, her first Top 10 opponent this year, played a role in the outcome.
“I think just maybe experience [was a factor],” Osaka reflected. “I don’t think that I’ve played a lot of matches against top players like this in a while. The way she plays kind of catches me off guard, simply because of her height. I didn’t know she could hit like that.”
The match was closely contested, with Paolini recording 28 winners and 39 unforced errors, compared to Osaka`s 29 winners and 41 unforced errors. Interestingly, Osaka won slightly more points overall, 101 to 97.
