Follow us on Google Discover Jasmine Paolini remains on course to secure a place in the WTA Finals after reaching the semifinals of the Ningbo Open.
Belinda Bencic gave Paolini an almighty scare, but it was the 29-year-old who emerged victorious to make the semifinals of the event.
Mirra Andreeva is sweating on her place at the WTA Finals, and with Paolini breathing down her neck, the race continues to heat up ahead of next month.
Paolini has enjoyed a bit of a renaissance in the second half of the year and did manage to win the Italian Open and also made the final of the Cincinnati Open.
Photo by Wang He/Getty ImagesJasmine Paolini reacts after beating Belinda Bencic
Paolini will want to put as much pressure on Andreeva in the race for the WTA Finals as possible, and by winning in Ningbo, she would do that.
Coco Gauff admitted last week in Wuhan that Paolini is a tough opponent, and here she had to dig deep to see off a dogged performance from Bencic.
Paolini admitted this was a difficult match for her, and had it not been for a back injury that hampered Bencic, the outcome might have been different.
On the court afterwards, Paolini said: “It was one of the toughest matches I ever played, honestly.
“I knew that she was playing amazingly, she’s an amazing player and a very good person.
“Today, she deserved to win as well, so it was a very tough match.
“At the beginning, I had some kind of situation where I couldn’t find my best tennis, but I just tried to stay in there somehow, and I’m so happy I did it.”
Paolini has been told she’s different to other players previously and now she will be aiming to add another title to her collection before the year is out.
What Melanie South said about Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani
Together, the duo helped Italy win the Billie Jean King Cup last month and Errani was in the corner of Paolini as she played Bencic.
After the world number eight had won the second set, Errani was spotted deep in conversation with Paolini, delivering instructions for her to follow to see out the match.
Former Great Britain player South was commentating for Sky Sports Tennis and she shared what she understands the relationship is like between Paolini and Errani.
She said: “Paolini has spoken about how she really likes having Sara Errani in her camp to help her with her game.
“She says she sees the game differently to herself and analyses things really well and she respects her a lot.
“She’s also kept her out on the doubles court. Errani has basically kept playing on with Paolini when otherwise she might have retired.”
Paolini could now meet Elena Rybakina in the semifinal, and both players are fighting each other to make the WTA Finals, with Rybakina in a last-chance saloon situation.