Britain’s Katie Boulter delivered a breathtaking opening set but ultimately fell short as Italy’s top seed Jasmine Paolini staged an impressive comeback to secure a semi-final berth at the Merida Open in Mexico.
Boulter stunned the world number seven early on, racing through the first set in just 28 minutes without conceding a single game. Her aggressive baseline play and clinical finishing left Paolini under immediate pressure and searching for answers.
However, the contest shifted dramatically in the second set. After winning only three points on her serve in the opener, Paolini reset both mentally and tactically. She held serve for the first time and quickly broke Boulter to move 3-1 ahead, signalling a change in momentum.
Boulter, who arrived in Merida riding a seven-match winning streak including her recent Ostrava Open triumph responded with a break to love. Yet consistency proved difficult for both players during a tense middle phase, with successive service breaks disrupting rhythm on both sides.
When it mattered most, Paolini showed greater composure. The 2024 Wimbledon and French Open finalist clinched the second set 6-3 to level the match before carrying her renewed confidence into the decider.
She surged to a 2-0 lead in the final set, and although Boulter briefly edged ahead 3-2 after breaking back and holding serve, Paolini elevated her game once more. The Italian reeled off four consecutive games to complete a 0-6, 6-3, 6-3 turnaround victory.
Reflecting on the battle, Paolini admitted she had to significantly raise her level after the opening set.
“The first set was really tough Katie was striking the ball incredibly well and hitting winners everywhere,” she told Sky Sports.
“I told myself I needed to play deeper and with more intensity. I focused on staying calm and thinking clearly about what I had to do.”
She added, “When you’re nervous, it’s hard to find solutions. I’m happy I managed to stay composed.”
