ROME: Jasmine Paolini launched her Italian Open title defence on Thursday by battling back from a set down to beat France’s Leolia Jeanjean 6-7(4/7), 6-2, 6-4.

Home hope Paolini is bidding to become the first Italian woman to retain the title in Rome, but started slowly at the Foro Italico.

The world number eight turned on the afterburners after going behind following an error-strewn first set, comfortably turning around the match to secure a spot in the third round, where she will meet Elise Mertens.

Paolini’s compatriot Matteo Berrettini fell at the first hurdle, 6-2, 6-3, to Alexei Popyrin, a defeat which will see the former Wimbledon finalist drop out of the top 100 in the men’s rankings.

Greece’s Stefanaos Tsitsipas was also ousted following a 4-6, 6-7(4/7) loss against Thomas Machac.

Coco Gauff, who lost to Paolini in last year’s final, made short work of Tereza Valentova in the reigning French Open champions’ opening match of the tournament.

American star Gauff beat Valentova 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 34 minutes in front of a sparsely-populated centre court.

Earlier, eighth seed Mirra Andreeva — who lost the Madrid Open final against Marta Kostyuk — needed just over an hour to beat Antonia Ruzic 6-1, 6-0 and advance to the third round.

China’s Zheng Qinwen also booked her spot in the next round as she defeated Cristina Bucsa of Spain 7-6(8/6), 6-2 in one hour and 35 minutes.

Elise Mertens, Linda Noskova and Sorana Cirstea also advanced with straight set victories.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026