🎾 WTA Rome: Jasmine Paolini vs Lulu Sun

🎾 WTA Rome: Jasmine Paolini vs Lulu Sun – Match Preview

🧠 Form & Context

🇮🇹 Jasmine Paolini

• Home heartbreaks no more? Seeking her first R3 in Rome after multiple early exits, including a shock loss in 2024.
• In-form and consistent: Hasn’t lost a first-round match in over a year—an unmatched run of reliability.
• Big results: Semifinals in both Miami and Stuttgart in 2025 show her confidence and composure at the elite level.
• Clay-compatible style: Uses angles, footwork, and spin to thrive on slower surfaces—especially when the crowd’s on her side.

🇳🇿 Lulu Sun

• Struggling to adjust: Just 1 win in her last 14 events prior to Rome, with confidence clearly lacking.
• Rome debut nerves: Needed three sets to beat world No. 229 Georgia Pedone in R1—far from reassuring.
• Mismatch on surface: Her game is built for fast courts; she lacks the patience and rhythm required for red clay success.
• One-off brilliance: Beat Zheng Qinwen at Wimbledon 2023, but hasn’t replicated that level since—especially not on clay.

🔍 Match Breakdown

Jasmine Paolini enters as a heavy favorite—not just because of ranking and home advantage, but due to her sharp clay-court pedigree and mental composure. She will aim to dictate with angles and depth, forcing Sun into uncomfortable positions and longer rallies.

Lulu Sun will try to shorten points and play aggressive, but her shot tolerance and movement on clay are below the level required to consistently compete at WTA 1000s. If Paolini sticks to her game plan and doesn’t press too early, she should cruise through this one.

🔮 Prediction

Prediction: Paolini in straight sets. Expect a clean, efficient performance from the Italian, who looks increasingly at ease on the big stage.