Britain’s Katie Boulter was unable to build on a superb start as she lost to Italian top seed Jasmine Paolini in the last eight matches of the Mérida Open.
Against world number seven Mexico, Boulter won the first set in 28 minutes without losing a single game.
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But mistakes started to happen as Paolini won 0-6 6-3 6-3.
Having won only three points on his serve in the first set, Paolini started the second set strong, holding for the first time then breaking to lead 3-1.
Boulter, who entered the competition after a series of seven victories, including win the Ostrava Open titlecame straight back to love, but neither player could hold serve in the next three games.
It was Paolini who kept his cool to win the second set and level the contest.
The 2024 Wimbledon and French Open finalist took a 2-0 lead in the final and, although Boulter broke back and held serve to lead 3-2, the Italian’s confidence grew as she won four games in a row to earn a place in the semi-finals.
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“It was really difficult – Katie, in the first set, she was hitting every ball and hitting a winner everywhere,” Paolini told Sky Sports.
“I told myself to play deeper and hit the ball harder because I had to raise the level to try to win the match and in the end it worked.
“I was trying to be calm, to think about what I should do. I think when you’re nervous, you don’t find solutions.”
