World Tennis League: Jasmine Paolini throws away big lead over Iga Swiatek but Kites still prevail

Jasmine Paolini still seems to have a mental block when it comes to Iga Swiatek but the Italian still faced a lead from the front task alongside Casper Ruud to hand Kites the win at the World Tennis League to end Day One.

To start off the tie, Paula Badosa again which seems to be an ongoing theme was not joined by boyfriend Stefanos Tsitsipas in mixed doubles and instead Alexander Shevchenko pulled double duty and also changed the order slightly.

He who up to recently also had a tennis power couple with Anastasia Potapova deputised with Tsitsipas also in the WTL last year only sporadically playing in that also. But it was Paolini who is used to doubles with Sara Errani as one of the world's best tandems who had fun playing with Casper Ruud who also had to play two matches with Nick Kyrgios not yet making his return to the court.

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Casper Ruud played again edging past Shevchenko to hand them a 12-8 lead which extended to 19-13 as Simona Halep did return though and to winning ways. She is part of the team with Ruud, Paolini and Kyrgios this week and played women's doubles with the Italian.

They came from 5-2 down to defeat the fellow dream team of Badosa and Swiatek. But Paolini then had to play a third game on the spin. She was 5-2 up and seemingly heading towards a big first win albeit not recorded against Swiatek.

But she threw it away as Swiatek won through 7-5. But the lead was thus that it was too big for Kites who won through despite the late issues for Paolini. But she added an extra point as it went to Overtime in a novel new concept. With the team leading, it was either Paolini won the one point or it would continue to a super tie-break and it proved to be a win for Paolini on that stretch.

But not in the match. Tomorrow sees Eagles led by Swiatek face Hawks led by Aryna Sabalenka. Falcons which sees Andrey Rublev and Elena Rybakina will face Kites led in this instance by Jasmine Paolini.