"I lost my lucidity," regrets Paolini after her elimination in the third round of the US Open
Jasmine Paolini's Grand Slam year has been largely disappointing. A double finalist in this category of tournaments last year at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon, the Italian failed to advance past the round of 16 in a Major this season.
Defeated in the third round at the Australian Open and in the round of 16 at Roland-Garros by Elina Svitolina, she also lost in the second round at Wimbledon to Kamilla Rakhimova.
This time, at the US Open, it was Marketa Vondrousova who ended her run in the third round (7-6, 6-1). A disillusioned Paolini faced the press conference after her defeat.
"I certainly should have played better tactically. I started well, but as soon as the first difficulties arose, I let myself get too distracted. I'm really sorry. I started the first set well, my thoughts were clear. I had many opportunities that I didn't know how to capitalize on.
The game at 5-4, in particular, with that volley that could have been a smash, I hit the forehand where she was, and then tie-breaks are always a bit special. I certainly didn't play the key points optimally.
I made a lot of errors, sometimes I couldn't even start the rally. When unforced errors pile up, it's hard to bring intensity to the points, because you always start with an unforced error.
I also regret complaining too much, but it always comes back to this: I should have been more mentally lucid. I lost my lucidity. She has a playing style that forces you to always think, she hits a lot of slices, she makes you play one more ball.
Her forehand was very good, I couldn't quite figure out where she was placing it. I probably should have targeted her backhand more, but she managed to break the rhythm and restart the rally.
I lost my lucidity and it showed, even in the games where I was serving, I didn't have the same intensity and clear thinking," analyzed Paolini in recent hours for Tennis World Italia.
US Open 
