Jasmine Paolini’s Sensational Comeback Secures Dubai Title 2024
Jasmine Paolini orchestrated a stunning turnaround to capture the Dubai title in a gripping showdown against Anna Kalinskaya.
In the biggest match of her career, Paolini persevered until the very end. She had been behind Anna Kalinskaya for a significant portion of their time on the court, but she spectacularly turned the match around to win 4-6, 7-5, and 7-5 and emerge as the unexpected champion at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Paolini has been moving up the rankings over the last several years, getting better every year and learning how to use her forehand and game to dominate bigger and more experienced opponents. The 28-year-old will make her debut in the top 20 for the first time in her career after taking home the biggest trophy of her career at the WTA 1000 event—just her second championship overall. She will go from her current No. 26 ranking to a best position of No. 14.
The women’s events in Dubai and Doha are now categorized as 1000 tournaments for the first time in the WTA’s history. The WTA had hoped that this decision would encourage more interactions amongst the top players. Rather, this year’s Dubai Tennis Championships has witnessed one of the most unexpectedly noteworthy title campaigns in previous years.
By overcoming eighth-seeded Maria Sakkari and eleventh-seeded Beatriz Haddad Maia along the way, Paolini had secured her spot in the championship match. The 25-year-old qualifier Kalinskaya, who is ranked No. 40, had accomplished an even more remarkable run, having won three straight sets over No. 3 Coco Gauff, No. 9 Jelena Ostapenko, and No. 1 Iga Swiatek. The Russian tried to take the ball early and control the baseline as she established a set and break lead at 6-4, 3-1, just as she had done all week.
Paolini, a little and rugged baseliner possessing a formidable forehand topspin and an enormous heart, persisted in his battle. Even as Kalinskaya took command again and led 5-3 in the third, she remained composed and served for the match at 5-4. Paolini was rewarded for her mental toughness as she cruised through the final four games to seal victory, while Kalinskaya obviously gave in under pressure, losing her serve and nerve in an error-filled game.
Karen Khachanov wins the Qatar Open against Jakub Mensik
In the meantime, 18-year-old Jakub Mensik mounted a fierce challenge, but Karen Khachanov persevered and won 7-6 (12), 6-4 to secure his sixth ATP victory at the Qatar Open.
Before the ATP 250 event in Doha, Mensik had never beaten a player ranked in the top 50. However, in only one week, he overcame No. 24 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, No. 50 Andy Murray, and No. 5 Andrey Rublev. He then upset another well-known player, Gaël Monfils, to go to the final. Mensik has demonstrated throughout the week that he is a smart player with an all-court style, and it is obvious that he has what it takes to keep moving up the rankings.
But in a lengthy first set that saw both players generate four set points before Khachanov prevailed in the tiebreak, it was Khachanov’s experience and better serving in crucial situations that proved to be decisive. The 27-year-old Russian kept up his pace after taking the first set, broke the serve early, and winning in straight sets.
