Paolini survives Fernandez scare to reach Bad Homburg quarters

Second seed Jasmine Paolini overcame a brave fightback from Leylah Fernandez to beat her 7-6(8) 7-6(6) in a dramatic round of 16 clash at the Bad Homburg Open on Tuesday in which Fernandez saved four match points.

Paolini edged the opening set in a tiebreak, saving a set point at 5-4 before sealing it 10-8 after a gruelling 26-shot rally.

The Italian looked on course for a straight-sets win when she led 5-2 in the second, but Canadian Fernandez saved a match point with an ace and clawed her way back.

Paolini held more match points at 6-5, but Fernandez saved all three to force a tiebreak. Fernandez went up 6-4 in the breaker, but Paolini held firm, saving two set points before clinching victory on her fifth match point.

Despite converting only five of her 17 break points, Paolini secured her first win on grass this season after a two and a half hour match.

Its very fun to play on grass, but you have to get used to it and you have to have confidence as well in your game, if not its really tough, Paolini said.

I really like also to go on the net and doing drop volleys and its fun, its really fun, but at the same time its a bit tricky.

Two and a half hours for two sets looks like a very slow clay court but a great match and I got my first win on grass this year. REUTERS

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