Jasmine Paolini is into the second round at the Cincinnati Open, having battled through a really tough opener against Maria Sakkari.
In what was arguably the toughest first-round match she could have hoped for, the Greek powerhouse twice took her to a tiebreak, yet failed to win either one as the Italian claimed both sets.
A straight-sets defeat marks an unfair reflection on the loser’s performance, who once again proved that she can battle with the very best when given the chance.
However, for Sakkari, it marks yet another early exit, which has been a disappointing staple of her 2025.
There are many reasons for her steady decline over recent years, with mental fragility likely chief among them. This particular issue was perfectly exemplified on match point.
Jasmine Paolini admits she was praying for Maria Sakkari to double fault
Speaking after her Cincinnati Open opener, Paolini has actually revealed exactly what was going through her head as Sakkari served to stay in the second-set tiebreak.
Down a match point, having come back from 6-0 down to just 6-5 down, the momentum was fully with her.
However, as her first serve failed to make it into the service box, the subsequent outcome felt inevitable. She double-faulted and handed Paolini the match.
Chatting with Tennis Channel, the 29-year-old admitted she was willing Sakkari to double fault, apologising: “Yes! I’m sorry for her, but yes. I was thinking, after she missed the first, I was like, please make the double fault. I have to be honest!
Yes, because it was a really tough tiebreak. I was 6-0 with the volley over the net, and I missed it, and at 6-5 I was praying.”
Asked about how it felt to see her commanding tiebreak lead slowly slip away, the Italian then admitted: “I was trying to make the right choices, but I have to say she played well at this point. I was like, Come on Jasmine, you won six points in a row, she won five in a row. It’s normal.
“But, at the same time, I was like, please make a double fault! [laughs] I’m sorry, guys but it’s like that.”
It’s nice to see last year’s French Open and Wimbledon finalist finally back in winning ways, after Paolini set an unwanted record with her shock defeat in Montreal.
Jasmine Paolini is still looking for a coach
It might seem strange given the smiley, bubbly personality she promotes, but for Paolini, there has been great turmoil going on behind the scenes.
After all, it has now been many months since she split with her long-time coach Renzo Furlan, seeking new experience that she has yet to find.
In the same interview where she apologised to Sakkari, Paolini also issued her conditions for a new coach, claiming: “Things happen, sometimes you feel it’s the right time for a change, to move some pieces around.
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
“With Renzo (Furlan), I had an extraordinarily long-lasting relationship, seven magnificent years with him, but at that point, I was looking for something different. Now, let’s say the same thing has happened again, I’ve made a change.
“Currently, the goal is to find the right person, someone who brings me calmness; luckily, the Italian Tennis Federation is supporting me a lot with someone I know well from seeing her train there since she was a kid. So far, we have a good rapport. We’ll see what the future holds, who my next coach will be.”