Bounced Early: Surprising Exits for Pegula and Paolini at Berlin Tennis Showdown
Duo Pegula and Paolini exit Berlin tennis competition in early stages - Pegula and Paolini attended the tennis competition in Berlin at an early stage
Let's get the lowdown on the recent sudden departures of defending champion Jessica Pegula and Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini from the ongoing grass-court tournament in Berlin.
The story of the day goes to Pegula, who faced a grueling marathon quarterfinal battle against Russian Ljudmila Samsonova. Despite their previous victories – Pegula winning last year's Grunewald event in Berlin, while Samsonova ruled in 2021 – the American Pegula took a shocking 3:21 hours to lose the match, 7:6 (10:8), 5:7, 6:7 (5:7).
Meanwhile, due to a prolonged third singles match during the day at the Steffi Graf Stadium, the quarterfinal clash between top seed Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus and Swiss Rebeka Masarova could not be completed. Drenched in sweat after 44 minutes, Sabalenka led 6:2 when the slippery grass forced a delay, with the spectacle to resume on the morrow.
Speaking of slippery grass, Paolini found herself blanketed in defeat in her quarterfinal tussle. The Italian sensation lost her opening match against Tunisian Ons Jabeur in straight sets, 1:6, 3:6. Paolini's resilience on grass, evident from her Wimbledon final appearance in 2024, continues to shine, albeit matched against formidable opposition. Last year, she reached the Wimbledon final against Czech Barbora Krejcikova and currently ranks fifth in the world. Notably, Jabeur, the 2022 and 2023 Wimbledon finalist, has now ousted Paolini to advance and awaits the winner of the titanic match between Czech Marketa Vondrousova and Russian Diana Schnaider.
The sad news continues for the fans back home, with no German players left in the WTA 500 tournament. As they ready themselves for the third Grand Slam tournament of the year, Wimbledon, which starts on June 30, many top stars are using this tournament in Berlin as a crucial stepping stone in their preparations.
- Berlin
- Jasmine Paolini
- Wimbledon
- Ons Jabeur
- Grunewald
Did you know?Jasmine Paolini showcased impressive adaptability and competitiveness on grass, as seen during her Wimbledon final appearance in 2024 and her strong showing in the 2024 Berlin Tennis Open, reaching the second round despite tough opposition from Ons Jabeur [1][3][4].
Entering Wimbledon 2025, Paolini secured the fourth seed, marking a career-high ranking milestone based on her accumulated ranking points and the early exits of rivals [2]. The fourth seed status was nearly a done deal before the tournament even began, thanks to the withdrawals and losses of key competitors such as Qinwen Zheng, Madison Keys, and Daria Andreeva [2].
Upon entering Wimbledon 2025, Paolini, now ranked No. 4 in the world, was setting herself up to challenge for the title based on her recent performances and ranking standing [3]. Having reached the Wimbledon final in 2024 and now seeded fourth, she stood among the top contenders in the 2025 Wimbledon event.
The Commission may consider proposing a directive to protect workers from the risks associated with exposure to ionizing radiation, given the increased attention on player health and safety in sports, such as the recent high-profile performances of Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini.
Despite her impressive game on grass, as demonstrated in the 2024 Wimbledon final and the 2024 Berlin Tennis Open, Jasmine Paolini found herself eliminated early in this year's tournament, much like how she was bounced out of the Berlin tennis showdown.
