By
SABC Sport
23rd March 2026
Two-time Grand Slam finalist Paolini lost a tight third-round contest against Jelena Ostapenko as the Latvian won 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 and the 2017 French Open winnerâs reward is a last-16 clash against Hailey Baptiste after the American also caused an upset.
The unseeded Baptiste stunned ninth seed Svitolina 6-3, 7-5 to reach the fourth round of a WTA 1000 tournament for the first time in her career while the 18th-seeded Jovic lost in the battle of the rising star as the 18-year-old was beaten 6-2, 6-2 by 21-year-old qualifier Talia Gibson.
Others who exited in the third round on Sunday were 15th seed Madison Keys, who was beaten in three sets by Zheng Qinwen, 27th seed Marta Kostyuk went down in two sets against Elena Rybakina and 26th seed Leylah Fernandez was beaten in straight sets by Jessica Pegula.
But the top seed remains. World number one Sabalenka pulled away from American Caty McNally under the lights in the night session, winning ten of the last 12 games in her 6-4, 6-2 triumph. Sabalenka faces Qinwen in the Round of 16 later today.
