Jasmine Paolini triumphed at the Duty Free Tennis Championships in Dubai, second WTA 1000 of the season: on the hard court of the United Arab Emirates, the 28 year old from Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, number 26 WTA, won in three sets, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, over the Russian Anna Kalynskaya, number 40 in the world. The Italian got the better of her rival from the qualifiers in two hours and 13 minutes who had surprisingly eliminated Polish Iga Swiatek, queen of world tennis, in the semi-final. For Paolini it is the second title in her career – the first in a 1000 – after her success in Portoroz in 2021, also accompanied by her best ranking: from Monday she will be number 14 in the WTA rankings.
“Everything is very special, I’m very happy, it was a very tough match. She played at an incredible level all week but I did well to get back into the match and fight for every point thinking that I could do it. I’m proud of myself and of what I did.” This is how Jasmine Paolini comments on her success in the WTA 1000 in Dubai, after defeating the Russian Kalinskaya in the final. “I’m happy with every match I’ve won, especially the first one – the reference to the match with Haddad Maia, where she was down by a set and a break – to then go on to win the title is incredible.”