Bad Homburg: Paolini Slams Fernandez; Swiatek, Navarro Advance

(The Post News)– Jasmine Paolini dug deep to survive a nail-biting encounter against Leylah Fernandez in the Bad Homburg Open round of 16 on Tuesday, winning 7-6(8), 7-6(6) in just over two and a half hours. The second seed’s composure and grit helped her secure her first win on grass this season, despite squandering multiple match points along the way.

Paolini edged the first set after saving a set point at 5-4, eventually closing it out 10-8 in a tense tiebreak capped by a gruelling 26-shot rally. She looked set for a straight-sets win after storming to a 5-2 lead in the second, but Fernandez wasn’t done yet. The Canadian saved a match point with an ace and clawed back to force another tiebreak, where she even held two set points of her own. But Paolini held her nerve, converting on her fifth match point.

While her break-point conversion rate, 5 of 17, left room for improvement, the Italian was pleased with the overall outcome, acknowledging that grass courts demand both confidence and adaptability. She shared that she enjoys the creativity grass allows but admits it can be tricky without full confidence in your game.

Elsewhere, world number one Iga Swiatek recovered from a slow start to dispatch Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 6-4. Swiatek rallied from 2-4 down in the first set and held steady through tight service games to clinch the win.

Naomi Osaka’s struggles continued as she bowed out to fifth seed Emma Navarro, who now faces Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals.