Paolini Advances by Retirement in Wuhan: Tauson Throws in the Towel in the Round of 16

One of the day's standout matches at the WTA 1000 in Wuhan featured Jasmine Paolini against Clara Tauson. Both women have had a very good season overall and were competing for a spot in the quarterfinals in China.

This was only the second meeting between the two players, following the Italian's stunning comeback victory in the second round of the WTA 1000 in Beijing last year (1-6, 7-5, 6-4). In fact, the match started in a similar fashion to their previous encounter.

Solid on her service games, the Dane seized her opportunities on return, breaking twice to take the first set. But quickly, Paolini accelerated and pulled away.

Facing an opponent ranked 12th in the world but physically hampered, the WTA's 8th-ranked player eventually took control. As a result, Tauson, troubled by a right thigh issue, ended up retiring (3-6, 6-1, 3-1 ret.).

Paolini advances to the quarterfinals, just one week after reaching the same stage of the competition in Beijing. To try and make it to the semifinals, she will have to overcome the winner of the match between Iga Swiatek and Belinda Bencic. As for Tauson, she suffers her sixth loss in her last ten matches.