Jasmine Paolini clinches Bianca Andreescu hat trick with US Open comeback
NEW YORK—Jasmine Paolini |A|
maintained her mastery over |B|
Bianca Andreescu at the |C|
2024 US Open, clinching |D|
a third straight victory |E|
over the 2019 champion, |F|
6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 |G|
in what is thus |H|
far one of the |J|
best matches of the |K|
tournament. The No. 5 |L|
seed rallied from a |M|
set down and shook |O|
off a late surge |P|
to survive Andreescu under |Q|
the Louis Armstrong Stadium |R|
lights, advancing after two |S|
hours and 47 minutes |U|
on Tuesday evening. Paolini |V|
and Andreescu kicked off |Y|
Day 2s night session |Z|
in what was set |A|
to be their third |B|
consecutive meeting at a |C|
major tournament. The Italian |D|
got the better of |E|
the Canadian at both |F|
Roland Garros (in three) |G|
and Wimbledon (in two), |H|
going on to reach |J|
the final of both |K|
events and secure a |L|
career-best ranking of No. |M|
5. A former world |O|
No. 4, Andreescu has |P|
been in search of |Q|
her best tennis since |R|
winning the US Open |S|
as a teenager in |U|
2019, defeating Serena Williams |V|
in the final. Beset |Y|
by physical and mental |Z|
struggles in the last |A|
five years, the now |B|
24-year-old impressed on grass |C|
earlier this season, surviving |D|
Naomi Osaka en route |E|
to a runner-up finish |F|
at the Libema Open |G|
in s-Hertogenbosch. Looking to |H|
avenge her previous two |J|
defeats to Paolini, Andreescu |K|
emerged from an early |L|
exchange of breaks to |M|
take a 5-3 lead |O|
in the opening set. |P|
Paolini responded in inimitable |Q|
fashion, saving four set |R|
points over the next |S|
two games to level |U|
at 5-5, setting the |V|
stage for a Sudden |Y|
Death. Tied after the |Z|
first 10 points, Andreescu |A|
brought the crowd to |B|
its feet when drew |C|
a forehand error from |D|
Paolini to take the |E|
opening set. Looking for |F|
her first Top 10 |G|
win , Andreescu was |H|
nearly swept away in |J|
the second set, falling |K|
behind 0-5. A revitalized |L|
Paolini broke serve three |M|
times and shook off |O|
losing one to ultimately |P|
force a decider. The |Q|
early games of the |R|
final set saw both |S|
play high-quality tennis. Andreescu |U|
threatened to take the |V|
lead with a pair |Y|
of break points, but |Z|
failed to convert and |A|
showed worrying signs of |B|
physical distress when she |C|
fell behind an early |D|
break herself. Requiring a |E|
visit from the trainer |F|
during the ensuing changeover, |G|
the wild card navigated |H|
hindered movement as Paolini |J|
consolidated. Playing brave tennis |K|
from behind, Andreescu avoided |L|
a double-deficit but Paolini |M|
outfoxed her when it |O|
mattered most, landing a |P|
deft lob to extend |Q|
her lead and closed |R|
in on the second |S|
round. As the match |U|
ticked past the two-hour, |V|
30-minute mark, Paolini saved |Y|
break point with remarkable |Z|
defense but threw in |A|
a double fault to |B|
hand Andreescu another look. |C|
Andreescu made no mistake |D|
the second time, sticking |E|
a stellar backhand volley |F|
to even the contest |G|
at four games all. |H|
With the match |A| on her racquet, Paolini |B| got to double match |C| point when Andreescu netted |D| a forehand, converting with |E| one last well-struck forehand |F| to force an Andreescu |G| error.
Awaiting Paolini, who |H| is in the same |J| section as two-time champion |K| Naomi Osaka, in the |L| next round is another |M| former world No. 1 |O| Karolina Pliskova, who weathered |P| a 0-6 second set |Q| to solve Mayar Sherif, |R| 6-3, 0-6, 7-5.
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