Katie Boulter failed to take advantage of a stunning start as she lost 0-6 6-3 6-3 to top seed Jasmine Paolini in the Merida Open quarter-finals.
The British No 2 stunned the world No 7 in the opening set but, despite remaining competitive throughout, made too many errors on serve to force an upset in Mexico.
Boulter, 29, took the first set to love in just 28 minutes as Paolini won only three points on serve and failed to hit a winner until already trailing 40-0 at 5-0.
Former French Open and Wimbledon finalist Paolini held for the first time in the match at the start of the second set, and the tide started to turn as Boulter failing to convert break points in the third game was followed by Paolini breaking to go 3-1 up.
Boulter broke straight back to love but the next three games also went against serve until Paolini finally held to take the second set and level the contest.
Paolini raced into a 2-0 lead in the decider and, although Boulter broke back and held serve to lead 3-2, the Italian grew in confidence to reel off four games in a row to progress to the last four.
Paolini said in her courtside interview on Sky Sports: “It was a really tough one – Katie, the first set she was smashing every ball and hitting a winner everywhere.
“I was telling myself to play more deep in the court and hit the ball harder because I had to raise the level to try and win the match and in the end it worked out.
“I was trying to be calm, to think what I had to do. I think when you’re nervous you can’t find the solutions.”
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A controversial moment during the Mexican Open saw Terence Atmane lose his match to Miomir Kecmanovic for a time violation
Indian Wells wild cards
Bianca Andreescu and Sloane Stephens will join seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams as former Grand Slam champions who have been awarded wild cards into the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.
Andreescu, who won the Indian Wells title in 2019 as an 18-year-old and went on to win the US Open later that same year, is back at Indian Wells for the first time since 2023.
The Canadian is back up to No 164 in the rankings after winning two ITF World Tennis Tour titles this year.
Gael Monfils, 39, has been awarded a wild card into the men’s singles draw, and will make his final appearance in the Coachella Valley.
The Frenchman will be joined by rising Spaniard Rafael Jodar and Columbia University standout Michael Zheng, who upset Sebastian Korda at this year’s Australian Open.
Main-draw matches at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open will begin on Wednesday March 4, with qualifying starting on Sunday March 1.
The singles will feature a 96-player draw, including the world’s top 10 players.
Medvedev into Dubai final against Griekspoor
Daniil Medvedev reached the Dubai Tennis Championships final and will face unseeded Tallon Griekspoor as he attempts to achieve something that has eluded him throughout his stellar career – winning the same tournament twice.
Former world No 1 Medvedev demolished top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4 6-2 in an 83-minute semi-final, setting up a title clash that could see him claim a second Dubai crown to go with his 2023 triumph.
The third seed has been in scintillating form in Dubai, dispatching Shang Juncheng, Stan Wawrinka, Jenson Brooksby and Auger-Aliassime – all in straight sets.
“It has been an amazing four matches, probably playing better and better each match, today being the best performance,” said Medvedev.
“If I can put in an even better performance tomorrow, I will have my chances to win and that is what I am going to try to do.”
Griekspoor, who has won three ATP 250 titles in his career, will be looking to add a first ATP 500 trophy to his collection when he faces Medvedev.
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