World No. 3 Iga Swiatek delivered a masterclass in Cincinnati on Monday, toppling No. 7 Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-4 to lift her first WTA title at the Cincinnati Open and the 24th singles crown of her career.
Trailing 3-0 in the opening set, Swiatek rallied with precision and power, edging ahead 5-3 before fending off Paolini’s late break to seal the first set in 56 minutes. In the second set, eight aces and strategic baseline play helped the Polish star close out the match.
Paolini’s run to the final marked a historic milestone, making her the first Italian woman to reach the Cincinnati decider. The 27-year-old qualifier from 2023 has since reached two Grand Slam singles finals, added a Grand Slam doubles trophy, and claimed Olympic gold.
For Swiatek, overcoming past semifinal exits—falling to Coco Gauff in 2023 and Aryna Sabalenka in 2024—made this breakthrough all the sweeter. Swiatek said she was shocked and super happy with her recent form and thanked coach Wim Fissette and her support network for guiding her transition to faster surfaces.
As a key tune-up for the US Open, the Cincinnati Open has crowned eventual Grand Slam champions in both draws for the past two years. With momentum on her side, Swiatek heads to New York as a serious contender at the final Grand Slam of the season.
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Swiatek defeats Paolini to win her first title at WTA Cincinnati Open
cgtn.com
