Paolini becomes first Italian semi-finalist at Miami Open

Jasmine Paolini became the first Italian woman to reach the Miami Open semi-finals by racing past Magda Linette in straight sets.

Tuesday's play at the WTA 1000 event was delayed due to rain, but when the players were finally cleared to get under way, Paolini wasted little time in booking her last-four berth.

The two-time grand slam runner-up lost serve in the opening game of the contest, but she immediately responded with back-to-back breaks of her own.

A crucial hold in a four-deuce fifth game kept Paolini's nose ahead, and after taking the opener, she carried that momentum into the second set with a swift break.

The world number seven faced five break points in the second set, but she withstood the pressure in each of those moments and secured her 6-3 6-2 triumph when a cross-court backhand from Linette ran long.

Paolini is guaranteed a tough draw in the semi-finals, with either world number one Aryna Sabalenka or ninth seed Zheng Qinwen up next.

1 - Since the event’s inauguration in 1985, Jasmine Paolini has become the first Italian to reach the Women’s Singles semi-final at the Miami Open. Breeze.#MiamiOpen | @MiamiOpen @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/XkXGjz90lt
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) March 25, 2025

Data debrief: Paolini flies the flag

Since the Miami Open was first staged in 1985, Paolini is the only Italian woman to reach the semi-finals of the event.

This is just her second run to a WTA 1000 semi-final at the age of 29.

She is the fifth-oldest player to reach her second WTA 1000 semi after Nadia Petrova, Danielle Collins, Ekaterina Alexandrova and Sorana Cirstea – the latter three all reached their second semi in Miami.