Jasmine Paolini collapses after dramatic defeat at the Internazionali d’Italia: “It will be hard to get over”
The Italian tennis star, Jasmine Paolini, saw her dream crumble in the third round of the 2026 Internazionali d’Italia, in a turnaround that no one expected. After a brilliant previous season, where she claimed titles in singles and doubles, the 30-year-old player suffered a bitter defeat against Belgian Elise Mertens, failing to convert three match points and allowing an unexpected turnaround in the score.
In exclusive statements to the press, Paolini did not hide her frustration and pain from the loss: “It’s a tough defeat, especially because of the result and the way the match unfolded. She is a player of great caliber, very solid, and she knew how to take advantage of the crucial points. I could have been smarter with my decisions at times. But this is tennis, and these things can happen.”
The analysis of the match was blunt and revealing: “I felt good on the court, but I played inconsistently on the match points, especially in the third. If I could go back, I would play differently — more aggressively, but keeping my composure. It will be hard to get over this loss, especially since I was playing in Italy, in front of my crowd. I wanted to keep playing, as performing in front of this audience gives me energy, but today it wasn’t enough.”
The drop in the rankings is inevitable for Paolini, who will lose her place in the top 10 after nearly two years in the elite. “The ranking is a consequence of the level I have shown. I am focusing on physical training to regain my best form. I need more mental clarity in decisive moments, something that has been lacking because I have played few high-level matches this year. However, I feel better than I did a few months ago. Despite the result, at certain moments I felt good on the court, and that is where I want to start again.”
The next big test for Jasmine Paolini will be the French Open, where she will have the opportunity to bounce back and show that this defeat is just a temporary chapter in her career. What is clear is that the player will not give up and promises to fight to regain her place among the greats of world tennis.
Stay tuned, because Paolini’s saga is far from over — and his response may come back stronger than ever on the courts of Paris.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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