Jasmine Paolini on fire as Italy surge into United Cup quarter-finals

SYDNEY – A red-hot Jasmine Paolini led Italy into the quarter-finals of tennis’ mixed-team United Cup on Dec 31, with the world No. 4 in sizzling form.

The 28-year-old demolished France’s Chloe Paquet, who broke into the top 100 for the first time in 2024, 6-0, 6-2 at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney.

It followed her 6-1, 6-1 thrashing of Belinda Bencic in her season-opening match to fire a warning shot heading into the Australian Open.

Paolini had a memorable 2024, finishing runner-up at Roland Garros and Wimbledon and winning her second career title in Dubai.

She also triumphed with Italy in doubles at the Paris Olympics and helped her country to Billie Jean King Cup glory.

“I played a really solid match. I was happy with my performance and focused all the time,” she said.

“Everything worked pretty well. Not too many mistakes and my level was high.”

Paolini won the first seven games before Paquet got on the scoreboard. But it was a minor blip, with the Italian quickly taking charge again with a flurry of winning volleys to claim victory.

Her teammate Flavio Cobolli put Italy 1-0 ahead with a battling 3-6, 7-6 (10-8), 6-2 upset of French world No. 14 Ugo Humbert.

It was the second consecutive win of the season for the 22-year-old, who has been steadily climbing the rankings in recent years to his current world No. 32.

“It was a great battle to start the season, so I’m really happy about the match,” said Cobolli, who saved a match point in the second set.

“I played a really good match and also it was tough to come back (against) Ugo.”

Paolini added: “Flavio won an amazing match. Unbelievable. He was a set and break down. He turned the match. Unbelievable.”

Humbert served for the match at 6-3, 5-4, but Cobolli recovered to take it to a tiebreak and saved match point at 8-7 before rallying in the third set for the win.

Iga Swiatek’s Poland will be looking to join Italy in the last eight. They meet the Czech Republic in Sydney on Jan 1, while Britain face Australia.

The Perth quarter-finals include the Coco Gauff-led United States facing China after they beat Croatia on Dec 31.

World No. 3 Gauff swept past Donna Vekic 6-4, 6-2 to avenge a loss at the Paris Olympics, while Taylor Fritz took care of Borna Coric 6-3, 6-2 in the searing heat.

Elena Rybakina’s Kazakhstan are through and will face defending champions Germany, led by Alexander Zverev.

Across the Tasman Sea, former US Open champion Emma Raducanu pulled out of the Auckland Classic on Dec 31 with a “back niggle” in a blow to her Australian Open preparations.

The Briton will now fly to Melbourne to begin rehabilitation ahead of 2025’s first Major starting on Jan 12.

The 22-year-old has suffered a series of injuries since bursting onto the scene with her New York triumph in 2021.

“I’ve tried my best to be ready. I love Auckland and the fans here,” the 56th-ranked Raducanu said.

“But unfortunately, I’ve picked up a back niggle and I won’t be ready in time.”

She is travelling with renowned fitness coach Yutaka Nakamura in an attempt to better withstand the rigours of professional tennis.

Raducanu missed a chunk of 2023 following wrist and ankle surgery, and was recently sidelined for two months by a foot injury.

Former Australian Open semi-finalist Elise Mertens also withdrew on Dec 31, hours before her first-round match in Auckland.

Top seed Madison Keys defied blustery conditions to beat Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti 6-4, 6-4 in her first-round match.

The American said: “Lucia is one of those players who’s just going to make you keep on having to play shots. So it’s great for the confidence this early in the season.”

The 29-year-old will next play unseeded Romanian Jaqueline Cristian, after her Ukrainian opponent Yuliia Starodubtseva retired during their second set.

Over at the Brisbane International, Belarusian world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka won her Dec 31 opener against Renata Zarazua 6-4, 6-0.

Sabalenka appeared bothered by the high humidity on Pat Rafter Arena, particularly during an error-strewn first set.

But after breaking her Mexican opponent at 5-4, the 26-year-old surged through the second set to wrap up the match in 65 minutes.

Sabalenka said: “It was a tricky start for me, but I’m glad that I closed it out in the first set, and in the second set, I felt like whatever I tried to do, it would work for me.”

She will play Yulia Putintseva next after the Kazakh’s 6-2, 7-5 win over American McCartney Kessler.

Spain’s world No. 12 Paula Badosa, however, was knocked out after losing 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 to Armenia’s 43rd-ranked Elina Avanesyan in the first match on centre court.

In the men’s draw, Australian Nick Kyrgios, making his comeback after a long injury layoff, lost 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-3) to France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in 2½ hours.

Former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic beat another Australian Rinky Hijikata 6-3, 6-3. AFP