Errani/Paolini knockout again: eliminated from WTA Finals

Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini must say goodbye to the WTA Finals. After losing to Hsieh/Ostapenko, the Azzurri, the top seed, succumbed in two sets (3-6 3-6) to the pair formed by Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens, the fourth seeded favorite.

An uphill start for the Italian duo, who lost serve as early as the third game with a bloody double fault by Errani. The Russian-Belgian pair doubled the break in the seventh game (5-2) but did not close on serve: with a third break, however, Kudermetova/Mertens won the first partial.

The Italian duo’s break in the seventh game (5-2) was not a match.

Immediate the reaction of the Romagna and Tuscan who scratch the break in the opening game of the second set with a forehand winner by Sara. The joy, however, was short-lived: immediate counter-break by Kudermetova/Mertens, who again took the serve away from the Azzurre in the sixth game before closing on serve on the third match point (6-3).

Errani and Paolini thus exit the group stage of the WTA Finals for the second consecutive year. Jasmine cannot console herself even in singles: in fact, the Tuscan has already been eliminated after defeats to Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff.