Jasmine Paolini advances to Australian Open second round after convincing victory over Wei Sijia

Jasmine Paolini, aged 29, advanced to the second round of the Australian Open with a commanding victory of 6-0, 6-4 against Chinese qualifier Wei Sijia, 21, on Tuesday. This match marked Paolini's return to the Grand Slam that heralded her successful season last year.

While the debutant Wei struggled to make an impact in the first set, she provided a more significant challenge in the second set, prompting Paolini to elevate her performance. Paolini secured a crucial break in the fifth game with a forehand return winner.

Although Wei managed to save a match point at 5-3, Paolini closed out the match in the following game, executing a cross-court forehand winner and reveling in the support of a robust Italian crowd.

"I feel very happy, of course," Paolini expressed. "It's not always easy to play the first round... I had a solid serve today. It's great to be back in Australia."

Paolini, who experienced a remarkable rise in 2024, reached the finals of both the French Open and Wimbledon, and qualified for the WTA Finals. Additionally, she claimed the women's doubles gold medal at the Paris Olympics alongside Sara Errani and led Italy to its fifth Billie Jean King Cup title in November.

Now, the petite 29-year-old is focused on securing her first Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park, where she reached the fourth round last year after previously failing to win a match in the main draw of the tournament.

"Last year I came here, like, 'Please I want to win a match at this Slam,'" she recounted with a laugh after her swift victory over Wei at Margaret Court Arena. "Then it happened, so I was a little bit more relaxed. I love the tournament, I love the city, and of course, I love the people."

In Melbourne, Paolini benefits from a favorable draw, with no immediate prospect of facing a top-10 player until the quarter-finals. The highest-ranked opponent she could encounter before a potential semi-final clash with world number two Iga Swiatek is sixth seed Elena Rybakina.

Paolini's ascent in the sport has paralleled that of Jannik Sinner in the men's circuit, with both athletes elevating Italian tennis to unprecedented levels. Following Sinner's victories at the Australian Open and US Open last year, Italian supporters were fortunate to witness their players competing in singles finals at every Grand Slam event in 2024.

She is set to face Renata Zarazua from Mexico for an opportunity to advance to the third round.

SportsLigue