Jasmine Paolini put up a fierce fight until the very end in the most important match of her career. Despite being behind for most of the match against Anna Kalinskaya, she managed to turn the tide and win in a thrilling manner with a score of 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, earning the unexpected title of champion at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
In recent years, Paolini’s ranking has steadily climbed as she has gained experience and developed her skills to dominate her opponents, particularly with her powerful forehand. With her victory at the WTA 1000 tournament, which is her second title ever, the 28-year-old will make her debut in the top 20, moving up from her current ranking of 26 to a career-high of 14.
This is the first time in the history of the WTA that both the Dubai and Doha women’s events have been classified as 1000 tournaments. This was done in hopes of allowing more top players to compete against each other. However, the Dubai Tennis Championships this year has had an unexpected and remarkable title run unlike any in recent years.
Paolini secured her spot in the final by defeating Maria Sakkari, the eighth seed, and Beatriz Haddad Maia, the 11th seed. Kalinskaya, a 25-year-old qualifier ranked No 40, also had a remarkable run, beating No 9 Jelena Ostapenko, No 3 Coco Gauff, and the No 1, Iga Swiatek, in succession. Throughout the week, the Russian player consistently took the ball early and dominated at the baseline, leading with a set and break at 6-4, 3-1.
However, Paolini, a determined and scrappy player known for her powerful forehand and resilience, persisted in the match. Despite Kalinskaya gaining momentum and taking a 5-3 lead in the third set, Paolini remained composed. Kalinskaya faltered under the pressure, making multiple errors and losing her serve, while Paolini’s mental strength paid off as she won the final four games and ultimately claimed the win.
Karen Khachanov managed to secure his sixth ATP title at the Qatar Open by overcoming a tough battle from 18-year-old Jakub Mensik, ultimately winning with a score of 7-6 (12), 6-4.
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Prior to the ATP 250 event in Doha, Mensik had never been able to defeat a player ranked in the top 50. However, this week, he was able to defeat No 24 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, No 50 Andy Murray, and No 5 Andrey Rublev, and even took out another prominent player, Gaël Monfils, to make it to the final. Throughout the week, Mensik has displayed his intelligence as a player with a versatile game, and it is evident that he possesses the necessary skills to continue climbing the rankings.
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However, it was Khachanov’s expertise and strong serving during crucial moments that ultimately led to his victory in a lengthy first set. Despite both players having four opportunities to win the set, Khachanov came out on top in the tiebreak. After securing the first set, the 27-year-old Russian continued to dominate, breaking serve early and ultimately winning in straight sets.
Source: theguardian.com
