Jasmine Paolini wins in Dubai, captures first WTA 1000 title

Field Level Media|published: Sat 24th February, 13:49 2024

Jasmine Paolini of Italy makes a hit to Coco Gauff of the U.S. during the quarterfinals of the Western & Southern Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason Friday, August, 18, 2023 credits: Cara Owsley/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Jasmine Paolini of Italy ended the magical run of qualifier Anna Kalinskaya at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, topping the Russian 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 to win her second WTA career title.

It was the first WTA 1000-level tournament victory for Paolini and came in two hours, 13 minutes in the United Arab Emirates.

Through the week, Kalinskaya eliminated some of the biggest names in women's tennis, including three top 10 players — Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia in the third round, Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals and World No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland in the semifinals.

And Kalinskaya had Paolini where she wanted her, winning the first set and going up a break in both the second and third sets. But Kalinskaya couldn't close out either one.

Kalinskaya, 25, was up 5-4 in the third set and serving for the championship, but Paolini pulled off her sixth break of the day to knot the match. Two games later, she broke Kalinskya's serve again to win.

On the day, Paolini had nine break opportunities and converted seven of them.

Paolini, who won her first WTA singles title in 2021, had been in three finals since and lost them all. Now, with this win, the 28-year-old is poised to move into the top 15 when the new rankings are released Monday.

—Field Level Media