Jasmine Paolini, Karolina Muchova set for US Open round of 16

Jasmine Paolini, a two-time Slam finalist in 2024, defeated Yulia Putintseva in straight sets Saturday en route to the US Open round of 16, becoming the first Italian woman to reach the second week of the New York tournament since Roberta Vinci in 2016.

With her 6-3, 6-4 victory, the No. 5-seeded Paolini has now reached the fourth round or better at all four majors this season, after never having advanced past the second round. Since the Open era began in 1968, only two other women have made their first four major round of 16 appearances in the same year: Christina Sandberg (1970) and Eugenie Bouchard (2014).

Paolini, the runner-up at the French Open and Wimbledon, has 18 Grand Slam match wins this season, which ranks first among women.

She next plays Monday against Czechia’s Karolina Muchova, who eased past Anastasia Potapova of Russia 6-4, 6-2.

Muchova has won eight of her last nine US Open matches after making the semifinals last year, where she lost to eventual champion Coco Gauff. Muchova had a 7-5 record at the US Open over her first five main draw appearances.

ESPN Stats & Information contributed to this report.