Jasmine Paolini Faces Anastasija Sevastova at China Open

BEIJING, China — Sixth seed Jasmine Paolini will kick off her China Open campaign against Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova in the second round on Thursday. Paolini received a bye in the opening round, while Sevastova comes in following a straight-set victory over Kimberly Birrell.

Paolini, ranked No. 8 in singles and No. 5 in doubles worldwide, is riding high after a recent Billie Jean King Cup win against Jessica Pegula. The 29-year-old Italian has had a standout season, marked by a title in Rome, where she defeated Coco Gauff, and a finals run in Cincinnati, where she lost to Iga Swiatek.

Along with partner Sara Errani, Paolini has also won titles in Doha, Rome, and Roland Garros, solidifying their status as a formidable pair this year. Her impressive performance includes winning 62.1% of first-serve points and converting 48.3% of break-point opportunities over 50 singles matches.

Sevastova, who had taken a 14-month hiatus for maternity leave and recovering from a torn ACL, is gradually finding her footing. She returned to the tour with a protected ranking, showcasing flashes of her former self with a quarterfinal finish in Rabat and a fourth-round appearance in Montreal, where she upset Pegula before falling to Naomi Osaka.

In their past meetings, Paolini holds a 3-0 advantage over Sevastova. Their rivalry traces back to 2020, with Paolini winning their first encounter in straight sets. Sevastova retired mid-match during their second meeting in Cincinnati in 2021, and most recently, Paolini claimed a comeback victory at Wimbledon.

With her current form and consistency, Paolini is favored to win this matchup. Betting odds reflect this, making her a strong contender to advance past Sevastova.

Prediction: Paolini in straight sets.