WHAT HAPPENED: A succession of passing rain showers couldn’t dampen world No. 60 Marketa Vondrousova’s third-round stunner of No. 7 seed Jasmine Paolini, 7-6(4), 6-1, on the Grandstand on Friday of the 2025 US Open. Lightning may even strike twice, as Vondrousova’s last Grand Slam win against a Top 10 opponent occurred while toppling No. 6 Ons Jabeur to capture her lone Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2023.
Vondrousova, who has struggled with shoulder and other injuries since her Wimbledon triumph, simply out-steadied Paolini’s mix of baseline aggression and guile.
In fact, each player delivered her own blend of penetrating forehands, subtle slices and deft drop shots to force a first-set tiebreak, which Vondrousova claimed by exploiting a spate of errors from her Italian opponent. While Vondrousova made more total winners (19 to 15) in the first set, Paolini was ultimately undone by failing to capitalize on either of her two break chances.
Vondrousova shifted to an even higher gear in the second set, racing to a 4-1 lead. Paolini fought valiantly against her opponent from Czechia, dodging break points to the delight of the vocal crowd before relinquishing the sixth game. Paolini hung her head after netting an overhead to give Vondrousova match point, which she seized when Paolini failed to retrieve a final drop shot.
WHAT IT MEANS: Vondrousova, the 2021 Tokyo Olympics silver medalist, continues her comeback to the world’s biggest stages. The former world No. 6, whose 2024 season ended prematurely due to shoulder surgery, has rebounded this year by winning Berlin (over Wang Xinyu of China). This is Vondrousova’s second straight upset at this year’s US Open, having notched a second-round win over the No. 32 seeded American McCartney Kessler.
Paolini, a former world No. 4, remains standing on the precipice of next-level greatness. Highlight reels from her breakout season in 2024 include reaching back-to-back finals at Wimbledon and Roland Garros, winning Dubai and qualifying for her first WTA Finals in singles and doubles. This year, she has lifted the trophy for her homeland at the Italian Open and notched a runner-up finish at the Cincinnati Open. Yet her best result in six main-draw appearances at the US Open remains a fourth-round appearance in 2024 (falling to Karolina Muchova of Czechia).
Vondrousova will next face No. 9 seed and fellow Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, who got her chance to hold the Venus Rosewater Dish aloft in 2022. Vondrousova said she has “nothing to lose” as she looks ahead to their fourth round encounter.
“It’s incredible to be here again and play good tennis,” Vondrousova said.
MATCH POINT: Vondrousova has advanced to the fourth round at a Grand Slam for the first time since her quarterfinal finish at Roland Garros in 2024.
