Fourth seed Jasmine Paolini shook off some early nerves to sail through to the third round of the Australian Open on Thursday with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Mexico's Renata Zarazua.
Paolini, following fellow Italian Jannik Sinner on to Melbourne Park's centre court, served notice she aims to match his success there last year when he claimed his maiden Grand Slam title. The energetic world number four was playing on Rod Laver Arena for the first time and initially dropped her serve in the opening game.
"I don't know why, but maybe I was nervous, you know, first time playing here and it's an amazing court," said Paolini, reflecting on her initial slip. This brief lapse sparked her to shift gears, as she quickly took control of the match, setting up a last-32 meeting with Ukraine's Elina Svitolina.
Using her quick footwork, Paolini provided a solid base for her precision groundstrokes, rattling off four consecutive games to lead 4-1 before Zarazua, ranked 70th, finally held serve.
Despite the early struggle, Paolini's aggression became evident as she sped through the second set, leading 4-1. Zarazua's determination was evident as she broke back to bring the score to 4-3, taking advantage of Paolini's momentary lapse in concentration.
Yet, the Italian gathered herself, creating another break point after outlasting Zarazua in a 20-shot rally, converting to gain the decisive 5-3 lead before serving out the match. "Renata is a really tough player. The ball is coming back so many times. But I think at the end, I managed to close out the match and I'm really happy about it," Paolini stated after the match, polishing off her opponent efficiently within 1 hour and 16 minutes.
Paolini's success at this event isn't just another tally on her record. It follows her impressive run over the past year, where she became the first Italian woman to reach the last 16 at all four Grand Slams during the Open Era and garnered the title at the Dubai tournament. The 2025 Australian Open has proved to be significant for her, marking her momentum as she seeks her first Grand Slam title.
Looking forward, should Paolini advance past Svitolina, she could face formidable opponents, including last year's finalist Elena Rybakina and world number one Iga Swiatek, who stand as hurdles on her path to the title.
This year's Australian Open appears to be setting the stage for another exciting chapter in Paolini's career—one painted with aspirations of Grand Slam glory, underscoring her determination to etch her name alongside the premier figures of tennis.