'It’s hard to accept': Jasmine Paolini gutted after missed match points in painful defeat against Elina Svitolina

Jasmine Paolini lamented her fourth-round defeat to Elina Svitolina at Roland Garros, where she squandered three match points in the second set. The world No. 4 was defending her runner-up finish from 2024 but couldn’t hold off the Ukrainian, who snapped her nine-match winning streak.

It was a high-stakes clash between one of the most in-form players of the season and the ever-dangerous Svitolina. The former world No. 3 now holds 42 career wins over top-10 opponents, including 23 against top-5 players.

Paolini appeared on track for victory after claiming a rollercoaster first set and taking a 4-1 lead in the second. However, Svitolina fought back, stringing together a run of points that got her back in contention. At 5-4, Paolini had two match points on Svitolina’s serve and another in the tiebreak—this time on her own serve—but failed to convert. Svitolina closed out the tiebreak by winning the final three points in a row.

“It was a tough one. I think we played a great match. I had my chances. She played well. I didn’t take it. It’s tennis. So it’s hard to accept… But I have to,” said Paolini, who never regained control in the third set.

Svitolina sealed the win 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-1 and advanced to the quarter-finals of Roland Garros. When asked why she lost, Paolini credited her opponent: “I think the reason is that she’s a great player. I had my chances… maybe one match point I could’ve played better, but at the same time, she’s a great player.”

Svitolina, showing her experience, reached her fifth Roland Garros quarter-final and 13th Grand Slam quarter-final overall. She will now face the winner between Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek in pursuit of her first-ever French Open semi-final.

Match Statistics Paolini vs. Svitolina