Paolini says goodbye to the internationals after failing to convert three match points.

Jasmine Paolini, the reigning champion and one of the great hopes of Italian tennis, saw her dream at the Internazionali d’Italia fade away in a bitter manner. The Tuscan player exited the tournament in the third round after a dramatic defeat against Belgian Elise Mertens, in a match marked by intense emotions and crucial moments squandered that proved costly. This loss also signifies the end of an era for Paolini, who, after nearly two years, will lose her place in the top 10 of the WTA rankings, a setback that will shake her season.

The match began with Paolini dominating, winning the first set 6-4, benefiting from a visibly nervous Mertens who made unusual errors. However, the balance of the match quickly shifted: the Belgian regained confidence and control of the encounter. Despite having a lead in the second set, reaching 4-2, Paolini could not consolidate her advantage. At the crucial moment, when she had three match points at 6-5, the Italian surprisingly faltered—especially on two points where the errors were hers, squandering the opportunity with mistakes from the baseline. The tie-break was a nightmare for Paolini, who ultimately lost 7-5, handing the set and the match to Mertens.

In the final set, the Tuscan never managed to regain her rhythm; she fell behind on the scoreboard at 1-3 and then 2-4, suffering a crucial break in the sixth game that sealed her elimination. Elise Mertens’ victory not only prolongs her presence in the tournament but also gives her a huge boost for the upcoming challenges.

In parallel, another electrifying showdown at the Bnp Paribas Arena saw young American star Coco Gauff face off against Argentina’s Solana Sierra. Gauff found herself in trouble after losing the first set 7-5, but came back strong, crushing her opponent in a perfect second set with a relentless 6-0. The third set was a true whirlwind: Sierra began to dominate 3-0, but the American refused to be intimidated and responded with an impressive comeback to 5-3, failing, however, to close out the match on her serve. In the end, the Argentine capitalized on a crucial break and won the third set 6-4 in a surprising turnaround.

In the ATP circuit, the news was also intense. Daniil Medvedev advanced to the third round without playing, benefiting from the withdrawal of Czech Tomas Machac, thus saving energy for the upcoming clash against Spanish player Pablo Llamas Ruiz, who surprised everyone by eliminating Corentin Moutet in a third-set tiebreak. Andrey Rublev confirmed his favoritism by defeating Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic with a double 6-3, while Cameron Norrie was eliminated by young Thiago Agustin Tirante. To conclude, a highlight is the incredible run of lucky loser Martin Landaluce from Spain, who, after coming through the qualifiers, defeated the experienced Marin Cilic and is already in the third round, proving that anything is possible in tennis.

This day was marked by four high-tension matches, where missed opportunities, unexpected twists, and the fight for survival in the tournament delighted fans. For Paolini, the harsh reality of dropping out of the top 10 is a call for reflection, while names like Mertens, Gauff, and the emerging ATP players show that the competition is fiercer than ever at the Foro Italico.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.