And Paolini got angry with Avanesyan at Roland-Garros!
Now that's what we call a turnaround. Jasmine Paolini first ran into trouble against Elina Avanesyan in the Round of 16 at Roland-Garros on Monday. The Italian conceded the first 4 games of the match, then found herself trailing 1 set to 0 after 50 minutes on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
With no room for error, Paolini got angry and seriously upped her game. Making far fewer errors, she was also far more incisive and forceful in her attacks. Avanesyan, perhaps tired from her 3rd round duel with Qinwen Zheng (3-6, 6-3, 7-6 in almost 3 hours), couldn't keep up with the acceleration. An hour later, it was all over, with the Italian dropping just one game out of the last 13 (4-6, 6-0, 6-1).
In the quarters, Paolini won't have to wait for the 2nd set to play her best tennis. On the other side of the net will be Elena Rybakina, world no. 4 and a formidable force since the start of the fortnight.
French Open 
Davis Cup: between reforms, criticism and national culture 
The paradox dividing tennis: exhausted players and a saturated calendar, yet ever more exhibitions 
Training future champions: spotlight on the decline of the French public model facing private academies 
Is padel threatening tennis? Inside the revolution shaking up the established order 
