Paolini survives Erjavec in three sets at US Open opener

Jasmine Paolini needed three sets to get past Veronika Erjavec 6-3 3-6 6-4 in the first round of the US Open. The Italian took the opener behind a solid delivery, landing 68.4% of her first serves and winning 66.7% of those points, before five double faults contributed to a wobble that let Erjavec level the match. In the decider the margins on serve told the story: Paolini won 48.0% of her second-serve points to the Slovenian's 40.6%, and Erjavec's 55.4% success rate behind her first ball never gave her a cushion. Both struck three aces, but Paolini's steadier baseline of numbers carried her into the second round.