Overview
- The defending champion came from a set down to beat Leolia Jeanjean 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-4 on Thursday in Rome.
- She will face No. 21 seed Elise Mertens next, and Mertens leads their tour-level head-to-head 4-2.
- Paolini finished with 57 unforced errors and said she felt nervous but was pleased to fight through the swings.
- Her title defense is key for her standing because she must defend last year's 1,000 ranking points to help protect her top-10 spot.
- Elsewhere, Matteo Berrettini lost 6-2, 6-3 to Alexei Popyrin and is set to drop outside the top 100, while world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 3 seed Coco Gauff advanced and Talia Gibson’s defeat ended Australia’s women’s singles run.