Paolini ends Boulter's winning run at Merida Open Katie Boulter’s seven-match winning streak came to an end at the Merida Open as she fell to top-seeded Italian Jasmine Paolini in the last eight. The British player, who had entered the tournament on the back of a strong run including a title at the Ostrava Open, was unable to sustain her form against the world number seven. Boulter won the first set decisively, completing it in 28 minutes without dropping a single game. However, her momentum waned in the second and third sets, allowing Paolini to take control and secure a 0-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory. The match began with Boulter dominating the first set, capitalizing on Paolini’s early errors. The British player’s aggressive baseline play and consistent winners left the Italian struggling to find rhythm. However, Paolini adjusted her approach in the second set, starting with a strong hold of serve and breaking Boulter’s service to take a 3-1 lead. Boulter fought back, breaking Paolini’s serve to level the set at 3-3, but both players failed to hold serve in the following games, leading to a tense third set. Paolini’s composure proved crucial as she broke Boulter’s serve early in the decider and extended her lead to 2-0. Despite Boulter’s efforts to rally, including a break and a hold to make it 3-2, Paolini’s confidence grew. She won four consecutive games to close out the match and advance to the semi-finals. In her post-match comments, Paolini acknowledged the challenge posed by Boulter’s first-set performance. “Katie was smashing every ball and hitting a winner everywhere in the first set,” she said. “I had to raise my level to win the match. I told myself to play deeper in the court and hit the ball harder. Staying calm was key—when you’re nervous, you can’t find the solutions.#jasmine_paolini #katie_boulter #merida_open #osttrava_open #french_open_2024
