WHAT HAPPENED: Italy’s Jasmine Paolini showed US Open fans why she is the No. 5 player in the world as she battled past 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu of Canada, 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4, in two-hours and 48 minutes in a thrilling Round 1 match in Louis Armstrong Stadium.
In an entertaining and at times intense first set, Andreescu dictated play from the baseline and took an early 3-1 lead, but Paolini fought back to tie the score at 3-3.
Andreescu, a wild-card entrant, broke serve in the next game for a 4-3 lead as Paolini netted a forehand on break point. After Andreescu held serve for a 5-3 advantage, Paolini fought off a set point to hold serve in the ninth game and close the gap to 5-4.
The Italian rose to the occasion in the 10th game when she fended off three set points and went on to break Andreescu to even the set at 5-5.
The opening set was ultimately decided in a tiebreaker as Paolini played her way to a 5-4 lead, but Andreescu stormed back to win three straight points to capture the marathon first set, which took 80 minutes to complete.
However, Andreescu, who hit 17 winners in the first set, could not sustain the momentum and Paolini quickly took control in the second set as she used three service breaks to establish a commanding 5-0 lead.
Paolini overcame a service break in the sixth game and served out the set in the eighth game to send the match to a deciding third set.
After Andreescu opened the final set with a service hold, Paolini fought off three break points to hold her own serve. She then broke serve in the next game to take a 2-1.
Andreescu appeared to lose her edge as the flow of points began to go in Paolini's favor as the Italian increased her lead to 3-1.
Later in the set, Andreescu fought back to even the set at 4-4, but in the ninth game, Paolini hit a beautiful down-the-line forehand winner to break serve and take a 5-4 lead.
That was all Paolini needed as she served out the match to advance to the second round.
“It was a really tough match. [Andreescu] is a great champion. We played three times this year. Every time it’s a battle,” Paolini said after her opening round victory. “I really enjoy playing here, this energy, this crowd… It’s an unbelievable atmosphere.”
She later added: “I’m enjoying the best job in the world. This year I’m playing pretty well. I’m enjoying playing in this big stadium, with the crowd, it’s beautiful. I will try to keep this level and enjoy [it].”
WHAT IT MEANS: Paolini, a singles runner-up at Roland Garros and Wimbledon this year, advances to the second round of the US Open for the first time since 2021. She will take on Karolina Pliskova, who reached the US Open singles final in 2016. In her first-round match earlier in the day, Pliskova fought past Mayar Sherif of Egypt, 6-3, 0-6, 7-5, in two-hours and 23 minutes on Court 10.
With her first-round victory, the No. 5 seed Paolini improves her career head-to-head record against Andreescu to 3-0. Earlier this year, Paolini defeated Andreescu 6-1, 3-6, 6-0 at Roland Garros and 7-6 (4), 6-1 at Wimbledon. Both of those matches were third-round victories.
MATCH POINT: When Paolini and Andreescu stepped onto the court in Louis Armstrong Stadium, US Open fans got to see a bit of tennis history in the making. They became the first players since Serena Williams and Justin Henin in 2007 to face each other at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open in the same year.
In addition, Paolini could become the first player to reach the women’s singles finals at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open in a single calendar year since Henin accomplished the feat in 2006.
