Jasmine Paolini beat Magda Linette 6-3 6-4 in 77 minutes to become the first Italian player in history to reach the semifinals at the Miami Open. The match was postponed due to a rain delay.
Paolini saved seven of the eight break points she faced to reach her first semifinal in 2025. The Italian player had been beaten in the Round of 16 at previous WTA 1000 tournaments in Doha, Dubai and Indian Wells.
Linette rallied from 0-30 down to break Paolini in the first game. Paolini broke straight back in the second game at 15.
Paolini broke Linette from 0-30 down in the fourth game for 3-1. The two-time Grand Slam finalist saved two break points to hold serve for 4-1 in the fifth game. Linette rallied from 0-30 down to hold serve at serve for 2-4 in the sixth game after a forehand error from Paolini.
Paolini held serve at 30 in the seventh game with a crosscourt backhand to open up a 5-2 lead. Linette held serve at love in the eighth game for 3-5. Paolini served out the first set at love as Linette made a backhand error in the ninth game.
Paolini started the second set with an early break in the first game. She saved a break point to hold serve at deuce in the second game for 2-0. Linette came back from 0-30 down in the fourth game and earned a break point in the fourth game. Paolini won three consecutive points to save the break point from 3-1 before breaking serve at 15 to open up a 4-1 lead. Paolini saved three break points in the sixth game and held serve at deuce with a crosscourt backhand. Paolini rallied from 15-30 down with a forehand winner and an ace before serving out the win on her first match point.
Paolini will face either number 1 seed Aryina Sabalenka or Olympic champion Zhen Qinwen.
