Mertens stuns defending champ Paolini from three match points down at Italian Open
Synopsis
Mertens' three-set comeback against defending champion Paolini was the standout result of Saturday's Italian Open action in Rome. By saving three match points in the second-set tiebreak, the Belgian not only extended her head-to-head dominance but also signalled that clay-court veterans remain dangerous late in tournaments. Ostapenko's breakthrough over Zheng, meanwhile, suggests that the Latvian's aggressive style is finally clicking on the slower surface.
Key Takeaways
Elise Mertens defeated defending champion Jasmine Paolini 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 on Saturday at the Italian Open 2026 in Rome , saving three match points.
Paolini led 6-5 in the second set and earned three match points but could not convert against Mertens' resolute defence.
Mertens has now won 5 of 7 tour-level meetings against Paolini .
Jelena Ostapenko rallied from a set down to beat Zheng Qinwen 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 , ending a three-match losing streak and reaching the fourth round for the fourth consecutive year.
13 seed) reached the fourth round with a straight-sets win over Oleksandra Oliynykova .
Elise Mertens of Belgium staged a remarkable comeback to defeat defending champion Jasmine Paolini 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 on Saturday at the Italian Open 2026 in Rome, saving three match points to reach the fourth round. The victory ended the ninth-seeded Paolini's title defence in front of a vocal home crowd at the Foro Italico.
How the match unfolded
Paolini controlled the opening set and forced the issue in the second, earning three match points while leading 6-5. However, Mertens held her nerve under mounting pressure, forcing a tie-break that she won 7-5 before dominating the decider. The Belgian's composure in the tiebreak proved the turning point, as Paolini's resistance crumbled over more than two and a half hours of gruelling clay-court tennis.
Mertens' dominance in the head-to-head
The victory extended Mertens' edge in the series to 5-2 against Paolini at tour level. Notably, this marked Mertens' first win over a top-10 opponent since defeating Jessica Pegula at the same venue last year, underlining her comfort on Rome's clay courts. The Belgian has now reached the fourth round as a former quarter-finalist at the tournament.
Ostapenko finally breaks Zheng curse
Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia ended a three-match losing streak against Zheng Qinwen, rallying from a set down to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 and reach the Round of 16 for the fourth consecutive year. Zheng, the Olympic champion, dominated the opening set but Ostapenko raised her intensity midway through the second, using aggressive baseline hitting to force a decider.
Ostapenko's breakthrough performance
The former Roland Garros champion maintained momentum in the third set, breaking Zheng at a critical juncture before closing out the contest in just under two and a half hours. The win improved Ostapenko's overall record against Zheng to 1-3 and marked her first victory over the Chinese star on clay, a surface where Zheng has traditionally excelled.
Other fourth-round qualifiers
No. 13 seed Linda Noskova secured her first fourth-round appearance at Rome with a straight-sets victory over Oleksandra Oliynykova. The results continued a pattern of dramatic comebacks at this year's tournament, with multiple players escaping from match-point situations throughout the week.
Point of View
But Mertens' refusal to fold — and her superior tiebreak execution — proved decisive. For Ostapenko, the breakthrough over Zheng suggests her aggressive clay-court game is maturing. Having lost three straight to the Olympic champion, she finally found the formula: dictate early, avoid extended baseline exchanges, and capitalise on break chances. The fourth-round stage now beckons for both victors.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Mertens beat Paolini at the Italian Open 2026?
Mertens defeated Paolini 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 on Saturday in Rome after saving three match points in the second set. Paolini led 6-5 and earned three match points, but Mertens held firm and won the tiebreak 7-5 before dominating the third set.
What is Mertens' record against Paolini?
Mertens has now won 5 of their 7 tour-level meetings, extending her head-to-head advantage. The Belgian's victory on Saturday also marked her first win over a top-10 opponent since defeating Jessica Pegula at Rome last year.
How did Ostapenko defeat Zheng at the Italian Open?
Ostapenko rallied from a set down to beat Zheng 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in just under two and a half hours. After losing the opening set, Ostapenko raised her intensity midway through the second set and used aggressive baseline hitting to force a decider, which she controlled throughout.
What is Ostapenko's record against Zheng now?
The victory improved Ostapenko's overall record against Zheng to 1-3, marking her first win over the Olympic champion on clay. Ostapenko had entered the match without a victory in their previous three meetings.
