Jasmine Paolini resisted Anna Kalinskaya until completing a firm comeback that led to victory in the Dubai tournament (4-6, 7-5 and 7-5) where he achieved the most important title of his career.
For the first time the Italian lifts a trophy in this category. A WTA 1000 that was near Kalinskaya (removed for title) and did not know how to close the victory in a match that was resolved two and a quarter hours later. It should be noted that she arrived as a favorite (she was able to beat the world number one Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals).
Jasmine Paolini conquers glory in Dubai. Getty Images
Kalinskaya, ranked 40th in the women’s rankings, aged 25, dominated the first part of the final. She stood at 6-4 and 2-0. But there began the reaction of the twenty-sixth in the WTA ranking and with the title of Portoroz, in 2021 as the only one in the display case.
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However, the Italian, more experienced in finals (she lost three others: Monastir and Palermo, in 2023 and Cluj-Napoca in 2022) reacted firmly and scored the second set. Everything was left in the hands of the last set where the Russian had the advantage. She had 5-3 and served 5-4 to close the victory. But Paolini achieved a 4-0 run that ended up giving him the victory and her title, the first she has achieved in two and a half years.
It was the second time in three duels that the Italian defeated the Russian. She prevailed precisely in Portoroz, in 2021 but months ago, at the Australian Open, Kalinskaya took revenge. Now, Paolini won again. The match and the title.
2024-02-24 17:58:01
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