Rome Champion Returns: Paolini looks to extend hot streak against Ajla Tomljanovic.
Fourth seed Jasmine Paolini is set to face unseeded Ajla Tomljanovic in the second round of the 2025 French Open. Paolini opened her campaign with a hard-fought three-set win over Yue Yuan, while Tomljanovic eased past fellow Australian Maya Joint in straight sets.
The Italian enters this clash with serious momentum, following a historic double win in Rome, claiming both the singles and doubles titles (alongside Sara Errani), a feat not seen in over 40 years. A finalist at Roland Garros last year, Paolini returns as a strong contender.
Roland Garros is on! Tough one, but happy to get the win in the first match. 💪🏾@wta @rolandgarros pic.twitter.com/WoT82r16XN
— Jasmine Paolini (@JasminePaolini) May 25, 2025
Tomljanovic, a seasoned competitor, reached her best result at the French Open back in 2014 with a fourth-round finish. Though this marks their first-ever meeting and Paolini stands as the clear favorite, however, the clay of Paris is no stranger to upsets, making this an encounter to keep a close eye on.
Paolini had a modest start to the season but found her stride with back-to-back semifinal runs in Miami and Stuttgart. She made headlines in Rome by winning both the singles and doubles titles, becoming the first Italian woman in nearly four decades to achieve the feat.
Along the way, she beat top-tier names like Coco Gauff, Peyton Stearns, Diana Shnaider, and Jelena Ostapenko. Now in peak form, Paolini holds a 22-8 record this season, with 40 aces, a 68% first-serve win rate, and a sharp 49.8% break point conversion.
Glory is child’s play 🥱
— Internazionali BNL d'Italia (@InteBNLdItalia) May 18, 2025
👏🇮🇹 Jasmine Paolini becomes the first player to lift both the Singles and Doubles trophies in Rome since Monica Seles in 1990!#IBI25 pic.twitter.com/bnw9Z8Ywcr
Tomljanovic, by contrast, has had a stop-start year. After early exits in Melbourne and Singapore, she reached the semifinals in Austin but hasn’t passed the second round at any WTA event since. Aside from a Round of 16 appearance in Charleston and a recent semifinal in Rabat, which ended in a withdrawal due to illness.
With a 12-11 record, the Aussie has posted solid numbers: 39 aces, 65.9% first-serve points won, and a 42% break point conversion rate, but hasn’t yet found consistent momentum.
Also Read: 2025 French Open Order of Play Day 4 – Important Matches To Watch Out For
Jasmine Paolini and Ajla Tomljanovic have not faced each other before. Despite the lack of knowledge of each other’s games, Paolini with her superior results and form this season will hold the clear edge in this matchup.
| Jasmine Paolini | Category | Ajla Tomljanovic |
| 4 | Ranking | 71 |
| 408-278 | Career W-L | 414-312 |
| 22-8 | YTD W-L | 12-11 |
| 3 | Career Titles | 0 |
| 0 | Grand Slams | 0 |
| 1 | YTD Titles | 0 |
💥 Ajla wins the all-Aussie battle.
— The First Serve (@TheFirstServeAU) May 26, 2025
🇦🇺 Ajla Tomljanovic takes down 🇦🇺 Maya Joint 6-1, 6-3 to start her Roland Garros campaign.#TheFirstServe pic.twitter.com/NZZbBG8NNq
Paolini is the clear favorite going in because of her recent excellent form and her historic Rome double. While Tomljanovic has the experience to challenge, Paolini’s momentum and sharper execution on clay should carry her through.
Prediction: Jasmine Paolini in straight sets
Also Read: Roland Garros 2025 Men’s and Women’s Prize Money: All You Need to Know
Here are the betting odds according to BetMGM:
Jasmine Paolini: 1/10
Ajla Tomljanovic: 6/1
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mma I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.
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