Katie Boulter failed to convert a blistering start as she lost 0-6 6-3 6-3 to top seed Jasmine Paolini in the Merida Open quarter-finals.
The British No 2 shocked world No 7 Paolini in the opening set, taking it to love in just 28 minutes as Paolini won only three points on serve and did not hit a winner until trailing 40-0 at 5-0. Despite remaining competitive afterwards, Boulter made too many serve errors to force an upset in Mexico.
Paolini, a former French Open and Wimbledon finalist, held for the first time at the start of the second set and the momentum shifted. Boulter failed to convert break points in the third game and Paolini broke to lead 3-1. Boulter broke straight back to love, but three of the next four games went against serve until Paolini held to take the second set.
The Italian raced into a 2-0 lead in the decider. Boulter broke back and held to trail 3-2, but Paolini grew in confidence and won four games in a row to reach the semi-finals.
Paolini, courtside after the match, said: “It was a really tough one – Katie, the first set she was smashing every ball and hitting a winner everywhere. I was telling myself to play more deep in the court and hit the ball harder because I had to raise the level to try and win the match and in the end it worked out. I was trying to be calm, to think what I had to do. I think when you’re nervous you can’t find the solutions.”
Indian Wells wild cards
Bianca Andreescu and Sloane Stephens have been awarded wild cards into the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, joining seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams. Andreescu, who won Indian Wells in 2019 and later that year the US Open, returns to the event for the first time since 2023 and is up to No 164 after winning two ITF titles this year.
Gael Monfils, 39, received a men’s singles wild card and will make his final appearance in the Coachella Valley. He will be joined by rising Spaniard Rafael Jodar and Columbia University standout Michael Zheng, who upset Sebastian Korda at this year’s Australian Open. Main-draw matches at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open begin on Wednesday March 4, with qualifying from Sunday March 1; the singles draw features 96 players, including the world’s top 10.
Medvedev into Dubai final against Griekspoor
Daniil Medvedev reached the Dubai Tennis Championships final and will face unseeded Tallon Griekspoor. Medvedev demolished top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4 6-2 in an 83-minute semi-final as he chases a second Dubai title to add to his 2023 triumph. The third seed has been in strong form in Dubai, beating Shang Juncheng, Stan Wawrinka, Jenson Brooksby and Auger-Aliassime all in straight sets.
“It has been an amazing four matches, probably playing better and better each match, today being the best performance,” Medvedev said. “If I can put in an even better performance tomorrow, I will have my chances to win and that is what I am going to try to do.”
Griekspoor, a three-time ATP 250 champion, will be aiming for his first ATP 500 trophy when he meets Medvedev in the final.