Rome, May 9 (LaPresse) – The defending champion of the Italian Open is out. Tuscan player Jasmine Paolini missed out on a place in the round of 16, defeated in a comeback by Belgian Elise Mertens with a score of 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 after 2 hours and 44 minutes. After taking the first set with solid tennis, the 30-year-old squandered three match points at 6-5 in the second set, allowing the Belgian to get back into the match and level the score in the tie-break. In the third and decisive set, Paolini began making a series of errors, lost confidence, and ultimately suffered Mertens’ comeback.
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