Rinderknech’s Comeback Crushes Italy’s United Cup Dreams
In Perth’s tense RAC Arena, Arthur Rinderknech erased match points to oust Italy from quarterfinals, while Jasmine Paolini’s steady serve provided a flicker of fightback in a tie already lost.
In the echoing confines of Perth’s RAC Arena, France’s Arthur Rinderknech turned desperation into dominance on January 6, 2026, stunning Italy’s Flavio Cobolli in a three-set epic that sealed the Azzurri’s elimination from United Cup quarterfinal contention. The 3-hour, 21-minute grind ended 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 7-5, with Rinderknech saving two match points at 5-6 in the second before clawing back from a break down in the third to win five of the last six games. This result locks in Argentina as the Perth group runner-up with the best record, per the United Cup: Scores | Standings, paving the way for Wednesday’s quarterfinals: defending champions United States against Greece in the morning, Argentina facing Switzerland in the evening.
Cobolli hammered 14 forehand winners in the second set, his heavy topspin forcing Rinderknech to scramble from deep positions, nearly pushing the Frenchman to a 1-5 deficit in games. Yet Rinderknech, fresh off a grueling loss to Stan Wawrinka three days earlier, absorbed the barrage with slice backhands that disrupted rhythm and 13 aces that pierced the indoor hard court’s quick bounce. He saved seven of 11 break points, his focus sharpening as the crowd’s murmurs built into cheers with each defensive lob turned into a crosscourt winner.
“I don’t know if it was seriously good, but it was seriously tough, that’s for sure,” the top-ranked Frenchman said. “He’s powerful and he made me play a lot of balls. I was able to find a way somehow like Stan found a way against me three days ago. Both matches [went deep] in the third, so I guess it’s good preparation for the Australian Open.“
Rinderknech bends but never breaks
From the baseline wars early on, Cobolli’s inside-in forehands tested Rinderknech’s footwork on the skidding surface, where low bounces demanded quick adjustments. Rinderknech countered by varying his returns, dipping into underspin to pull Cobolli forward before unleashing down-the-line passes that exploited stretched coverage. Trailing 2-4 in the decider, he flipped momentum with a one–two pattern—flat serve wide followed by a heavy forehand crosscourt—easing the tension from Italy’s bench as errors crept into his opponent’s game.
This victory cements Rinderknech’s rise, ending 2025 as France’s No. 1 and breaking into the top 30 for the first time, now at a career-high No. 27. The mental edge he displayed, relaxing into aggression when cornered, echoes the pressures of leading a nation into a new season. Post-match, he leaned on that survival mode, knowing his coach Lucas would mine positives from the tape for Australian Open tweaks.
“[Near the end] I relaxed a little more when my back was against the wall,” he added. “I couldn’t do anything else but try to the last shot. I’ll talk to my coach Lucas and I’m sure we can take something positive out of it.”
Paolini channels positivity amid defeat
Italy’s elimination hung heavy as Jasmine Paolini took the court against compatriot Leolia Jeanjean in a dead rubber, the World No. 8 tasked with salvaging pride on the same unforgiving hard courts. Jeanjean, the underdog, fired six aces in her first two service games to snag a 2-1 lead, her flat deliveries hugging the lines and forcing Paolini into tentative returns. But Paolini reset with crisp footwork, breaking back via a deep crosscourt lob that exposed Jeanjean’s midcourt hesitation, then reeled off five straight games to pocket the first set in 40 minutes.
Her serve anchored the effort, winning 80% of first-serve points in the opener and climbing to 88% overall, the topspin kick disrupting Jeanjean’s rhythm on the low-bouncing surface. She broke to start the second and held through resistance, converting on her sixth match point for a 6-2, 6-3 win in 1 hour and 22 minutes—her first victory of 2026. The Perth crowd, still electric from Rinderknech’s drama, fed off her composure, her inside-out backhands pinning Jeanjean deep in rallies that stayed under control.
Too good 💪Jasmine Paolini finishes her United Cup Singles campaign with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Leolia Jeanjean. pic.twitter.com/sTrYiFzfB2
Too good 💪
Jasmine Paolini finishes her United Cup Singles campaign with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Leolia Jeanjean. pic.twitter.com/sTrYiFzfB2— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 6, 2026
Even with the tie lost, Paolini’s mindset stayed forward-focused, a balm for her team’s dejection as mixed doubles loomed between Italy’s Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori versus France’s Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah and Edouard Roger-Vasselin—bragging rights only on courts that amplify every unforced error. Her efficiency highlighted the tactical edges that define United Cup battles, where individual poise can soften group setbacks.
“We couldn’t get through the group, but we did our best,” Paolini said. “We fought until the last ball and there’s still mixed doubles, so we’re going to be there to cheer for them. Sometimes it’s sport, but we have to keep going, [keep] fighting, because that’s the right way to finish this competition.”
Resilience fuels Australian Open path
Rinderknech’s tactical shifts and Paolini’s serving clinic underscore the United Cup’s blend of mental fortitude and surface savvy, prepping both squads for the Australian Open’s hard-court grind. As France pushes for the tie win through doubles, Italy exits with heads high, their efforts a reminder that comebacks start in the mind. These Perth clashes, rich with break-point drama and ace tallies, sharpen edges for the majors ahead, where every rally counts toward deeper runs.
