Paolini, 28, was broken in the first game, held on her second service game, but trailed 3-1, 4-1, and 5-1 in a first set that showed a nervier, tenser, less explosive version of the player that had started 2024 as barely a top-30 player but has now won the Dubai WTA 1000 event and reached the finals of both the French Open and Wimbledon. The last women’s player to make those two slam finals in the same year was a certain Serena Williams in 2016. Decent company to keep.