Jasmine Paolini cruised past Eva Lys 6-2 6-1 in 1 hour and 5 minutes in the first match of the night session at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.
Paolini won 73% of return points and converted six of the eight break points. The 2024 Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion improved to 2-0 in her head-to-head matches against Lys and 4-0 in sets.
Paolini broke serve at 15 in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. Lys broke straight back in the fifth game at deuce. Paolini earned a second break in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead and consolidated the break by holding serve for 5-2. Paolini sealed the first set 6-2 with a break on the second set point.
Paolini broke serve at 15 in the second game. The Miami Open semifinalist went up a double break in the fourth game at deuce to win her seventh consecutive game to build up a 6-2 4-0 lead. Lys pulled back one break in the fifth game to reduce the gap to 1-4. Paolini broke serve at deuce in the sixth game and served out the win on her first match point.
Paolini set up a second round match against Germany’s Jule Niemeier, who came back from one set down to beat her compatriot Laura Siegemund 4-6 6-3 6-4.
Number 7 seed Emma Navarro eased past Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-3 6-0 in 1 hour and 16 minutes. Navarro fired 24 winners to Haddad Maia’s 8 and converted 4 of her 9 break points.
Haddad Maia saved three break points in the second game of the first set. Navarro fended off two break points in the fifth game. The US player earned the first break in the eighth game and served out the first set with a hold at love in the ninth game.
Navarro broke three times in the first, third and fifth games and served out the win on her first match point in the sixth game. “I’ve had a lot of long matches this year, and a lot of three-sets. To get it done a little bit quicker feels good. Proud of my form … It’s my first tournament on red clay this year, so I’m leaning into it and having some fun out here”, said Navarro.
