Finalist last year, Paolini begins Wimbledon with a tough victory against Sevastova

Jasmine Paolini, world No. 4, faced Anastasija Sevastova in her opening match at Wimbledon.

As in Roland-Garros, the Italian has a lot at stake during this fortnight, since she reached the final on the London grass last season. Her debut was complicated, with a first set lost 6-2 during which she committed 17 unforced errors.

Paolini then corrected her game in the next two sets, eventually winning 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 after almost two hours of play. In the second round, she will face Kamilla Rakhimova, world No. 80, who won her first-round match on Monday against Aoi Ito (5-7, 6-3, 6-2).