By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, August 18, 2025
Picture credit score: Cincinnati Open Fb
Striations scarred the yellow ball from the punishing energy of Iga Swiatek’s strings.
Swiatek spent this event tattooing the tennis ball and tearing by the Cincinnati Open discipline with trendy dedication.
The third-seeded Swiatek stopped Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-4 to seize her maiden Cincinnati Open championship and her twenty fourth profession title tonight.
It’s Swiatek’s eleventh WTA 1000 title—solely legendary Serena Williams (13) has received extra—and she or he did it with out surrendering a set sealing this one hour, 49-minute closing by torching an ace out extensive.
Sealed with an ace 💫
The second @iga_swiatek secured the 2025 Cincinnati Open title 🏆#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/CkgLgtb8Gc
— wta (@WTA) August 19, 2025
“Congrats [to Jasmine] for the entire event you’re taking part in nice and hopefully we’re gonna play the finals on the US Open in two weeks,” Swiatek stated. “Most significantly thanks for being such a constructive particular person within the locker room it’s at all times good to see you so thanks for that and congrats to your staff for wonderful work. It was a pleasure.”
A pointy Swiatek dispatched Anastasia Potapova, Sorana Cirstea, Anna Kalinskaya, Elena Rybakina and Paolini with out allowing a set amid generally sweltering Cincy circumstances.
The third-seeded Swiatek transformed all six break factors she earned and received 19 of 27 factors performed on the Paolini second serve.
The Wimbledon champion claimed her second title of the season, surpassed Coco Gauff for the world No. 2 rating, which propels her to the second seed for this month’s US Open, and solidified her standing because the participant to beat in Flushing Meadows.
Even in defeat—her sixth loss in six conferences vs. Swiatek—the perpetually-positive Paolini is a enjoyable watch.
Tonight, the 5’4” Italian threw all she had at Swiatek—she tried taking part in deep, hit some brief angles, got here to web—however in the end got here up brief towards a quicker, stronger and extra explosive opponent.
“I need to congratulate Iga,” Paolini stated. “In fact you have been taking part in wonderful and you actually deserve this title….
“You guys have been wonderful, an incredible crowd, I actually like to play right here. It was an incredible two weeks. I got here right here after two troublesome months to search out my degree once more was nice. Thanks for cheering for me from the primary spherical to the finals. Thanks for pushing me throughout the matches, I actually felt the love from you.”
On the outset, an keen Swiatek was over taking part in some pictures and Paolini exploited it bursting out to a shocking 3-0 lead.
Credit score Swiatek for persevering with to fireplace away. She responded reeling off eight of the following 9 factors to spark a five-game run for 5-3. Paolini stopped the bleeding with a robust maintain at 15.
The six-time Grand Slam champion served for the primary set at 5-4 and ended a crackling rally with a forehand flash down the road for set level. Paolini pumped a forehand swing volley to saved it then coaxed a wild forehand as she broke again for 5-all with a loud “Come on!”
Resetting, Swiatek got here proper again drawing back-to-back netted errors with deep drives to interrupt once more for 6-5. By then, Swiatek had transformed all three of her break-point alternatives.
This time, Swiatek made no mistake.
Sliding an ace out extensive introduced Swiatek a second set level. Swiatek banged a physique serve to seal the 56-minute opener with a love maintain.
Swiatek greater than doubled Paolini’s winner output in a good opening set—19 to eight—whipped the down the road drive successfully and her longer attain was evident because the Italian generally flicked her Yonex in useless at balls blurring by her.
Simply @iga_swiatek issues ™️#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/GMqNhOEsif
— wta (@WTA) August 18, 2025
The pair traded breaks to begin the second set. Paolini stayed in step by 4 video games.
Then the cumulative stress of Swiatek’s twisting topspin drives pierced Paolini’s serve.
In a sloppy recreation, Paolini spit up her second double fault to face double break level. Flat-ling a forehand into web, the world No. 9 gifted the break and a 3-2 result in Swiatek.
We see it however we do not imagine it 🤯@JasminePaolini | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/SccKYsTUb1
— wta (@WTA) August 18, 2025
Eighty-nine minutes into the ultimate, Paolini produced a superb working forehand cross inciting an eruption from Cincy followers as she raised each arms towards the sky like a sprinter tearing by the tape to interrupt again at 3-all.
Regardless of that highlight-reel play, Paolini couldn’t maintain that lofty degree as Swiatek swept a pair of forehand winners to interrupt for 5-3.
That maintain was a prelude of the ultimate recreation as Swiatek slid her ninth ace out extensive, flung her Tecnifibre apart in pleasure. That was the one time all event Swiatek regarded disarmed.
