WTA French Open – Jasmine Paolini vs Ajla Tomljanovic
🧠 Form & Context
Jasmine Paolini
🔥 Still riding the wave: 2024’s Roland-Garros and Wimbledon finalist is back in Paris as the world No. 4 and hasn’t missed a beat in 2025.
🏆 Big wins recently: Champion in Rome (WTA 1000), semifinalist in Miami and Stuttgart — proving she’s not just a one-surface wonder.
🎾 Hard-fought R1: Took the long route against Yuan Yue (6-1, 4-6, 6-3), but her fighting spirit prevailed.
🧱 Slam evolution: Went from never reaching a Grand Slam R3 to back-to-back finals in 2024 — she’s the real deal now.
Ajla Tomljanovic
🩹 Fitness concerns linger: Retired in Rabat SF due to physical issues, but returned strong in R1 here, beating the same opponent (Maya Joint) who had gotten the walkover.
📉 Mixed season: Despite semifinals in Austin and Rabat, she has yet to find consistent top-level rhythm post-injuries.
⏪ Slam rewind: Her best Roland-Garros run came in 2014 (R4) — a decade ago. Since then, 2R exits have been the norm.
📊 Top-10 troubles: 7-match losing streak vs. top-10 opponents since beating Badosa in 2022.
🔍 Match Breakdown
Paolini is no longer a scrappy underdog — she’s an established elite contender with the stamina, belief, and shot tolerance to outlast most challengers on clay. Her success in Rome further validated her tactical clarity and resilience on slow surfaces.
Tomljanovic has the experience and tools to frustrate opponents — clean ball-striking, sharp angles, and good court IQ — but her physical reliability is in question, especially after the Rabat retirement just days ago.
If the match extends beyond two sets, Paolini’s footwork and recent form should create a clear edge. The Italian is far more comfortable in longer rallies, and she knows how to manage the big points better now.
🔮 Prediction
Prediction: Paolini in 3 sets – Experience + elite form should prove too strong over time.
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