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Paolini struggled on serve throughout a one-hour, 31-minute contest, giving up 16 break points while only carving out four such opportunities for herself in a 6-4 6-3 defeat.

Maria took five of those chances to break, as she sealed her third victory in six head-to-head meetings with the two-time grand slam finalist.

Things had started well for Paolini as she surged into a 3-0 lead at the start of the first set, but losing a marathon fifth game on serve was the turning point for the Italian, with Maria winning six games in a run of seven to take the opener.

The momentum was with the German from that point on, with two more breaks putting her 4-1 up in the second set. 

Though Paolini recovered one of those breaks, her attempt at a comeback fell short following another poor service game, with Maria converting her third match point.