Paolini beats Andreescu to reach fourth round

Jasmine Paolini reached the Wimbledon fourth round for the first time by impressively defeating Bianca Andreescu.

The French Open finalist, seeded seventh, won 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 under the roof on Court One.

There was little to separate the players in the first set as they both looked to attack at the first opportunity, but Andreescu could not maintain her level.

Italian Paolini, 28, is into the second week having never previously won a match at Wimbledon until this year.

It continues a remarkable career surge – she had not gone beyond the second round of a Grand Slam until 2024.

She will play 12th seed Madison Keys or 18th seed Marta Kostyuk in the last 16.

Paolini and Canadian Andreescu played each other in the French Open third round five weeks ago, when the Italian won in three sets.

That was Andreescu’s first tournament in nine months as she returned from a back problem, the latest in a series of serious injuries that have blighted her career since she won the US Open as a 19-year-old in 2019.

Now ranked 176th in the world, she matched her opponent’s shot-making in the first set but faded in the second, losing the final six games with Paolini sealing victory with a backhand return winner.

“I think I played a good match,” said a delighted Paolini. “I tried to be aggressive because, if not, I am going to have to run so much.”

Elsewhere, 19th seed Emma Navarro beat Russian Diana Shnaider 2-6 6-3 6-4 and will next play second seed and fellow American Coco Gauff or Britain’s Sonay Kartal.