Paolini Upset Marks Fourth Top-5 Exit at Wimbledon 2025

JAKARTA, July 3, 2025 — The unpredictability of Wimbledon 2025 continued on Friday as Jasmine Paolini, the No. 5 seed, suffered a surprising second-round defeat, becoming the fourth Top 5 player to exit the women’s draw before the third round.

Paolini, who recently reached the Roland Garros final and broke into the Top 5 for the first time in her career, was beaten 7-5, 6-4 by unseeded American Emma Navarro in a tightly contested match on Court 2.

The Italian struggled to find her rhythm on grass, committing 28 unforced errors and managing just 9 winners. Navarro, meanwhile, played with poise and tactical clarity, using variety and depth to disrupt Paolini’s baseline-heavy style.

“She made it really difficult for me to play my game,” Paolini said after the match.

“I couldn’t control the pace, and that cost me.”

A growing trend of early exits

Paolini’s departure follows the exits of Coco Gauff (No. 3), Jessica Pegula (No. 4), and Ons Jabeur (No. 5) in earlier rounds, leaving only Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina among the top five seeds still in contention.

This marks the first time in over a decade that four of the Top 5 seeds in the women’s draw have been eliminated before the third round at Wimbledon — signaling a dramatic shift in momentum and opportunity for lower-ranked players.

Match Stats:

• Aces: Paolini – 1 | Navarro – 4

• Winners: Paolini – 9 | Navarro – 21

• Unforced Errors: Paolini – 28 | Navarro – 17

• Break Points Converted: Paolini – 2/6 | Navarro – 4/7

A new chapter for Jasmine Paolini

Despite the early exit, Paolini’s rapid rise in 2024–2025 — including a French Open final and her first WTA 1000 title — has made her one of the season’s breakout stars. However, the loss underlines her ongoing challenge of adapting her game to grass courts, where movement and shot timing demand a different approach.

“I still need to learn how to feel comfortable on this surface,” she admitted. “But I’ll come back stronger.”

The draw opens — who will seize the moment?

With multiple top seeds already eliminated, the women’s draw at Wimbledon 2025 has opened up significantly. Emma Navarro now finds herself among a compelling group of dark horses — including Mirra Andreeva, Marta Kostyuk, and Beatriz Haddad Maia — all sensing a rare opportunity to chase Grand Slam glory in a suddenly wide-open field.