Jasmine Paolini became the second Italian to win a title in Dubai as she mounted multiple comebacks to finally defeat Anna Kalinskaya on Saturday 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 to claim the honours.
The No. 26 who will rise into the ranking Top 20 for the first time on Monday, is the first from her nation to claim a trophy here after Sara Errani eight years ago.
She joins compatriots Flavia Penetta and Camila Giorgi in lifting a Masters 1000 trophy/
Paolini had to dig herself out of hole after hole as she finally subdued a qualifier who had dropped just one set all week and knocked out three Top 10 opponents – including world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the semis.
“It’s all the week that I lose the first game,” the winner said. “I I was just trying to play every point, telling myself to just enjoy, to fight.
“At night here, the ball is more heavy and it’s very humid.
“I’m really happy how I managed to come back. It’s unbelievable. I don’t know. I’m just so happy.”
Paolini also took revenge for her fourth round loss last month at the Australian Open to Kalinskaya.
The first set got away to a ragged start, with service breaks in four of the first six games before Kalinskaya steadied.
She then broke Italy’s Paolini again for a 5-4 lead and clinched the opening set a game later after 54 minutes.
The second set began with another break of the 26th-ranked Paolini, who will rise into the ranking Top 20 for the first time after her week here.
Kalinskaya lost the break for 3-all as her opponent drove a winner down the line out of reach. Paolini stayed in the chase, levelling at a set each with a break of the qualifier in the 12th game, 7-5.
Following form, the third set began with three straight breaks of serve, with Kalinskaya prevailing 2-1 and widening her lead with a love game, 3-1.
The first qualifier to ever play a final here missed on a drop shot, losing serve for the sixth time as Paolini reached 5-5.
She broke for a final time and ended the effort after two and a quarter hours.
“Honestly, I don’t know how I managed to win the match because she was playing too good at the beginning,” Paolini said.
“I tried to play more on the backhand, tried to push more, to be also more relaxed. I was running a lot.
“But the key was to believe that even if I was down, I could turn the match.”
Main photo:- Jasmine Paolini wins Dubai title – by WTATennis.com
