By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, December 16, 2024
Picture credit score: Francois Nel/Getty for Dubai Obligation Free Tennis Championships
Dubai will have fun its silver anniversary with gold normal champions.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek, Olympic gold-medal champion Zheng Qinwen and reigning champion Jasmine Paolini headline the sector for landmark twenty fifth anniversary Dubai Obligation Free Tennis Championships’ subsequent February.
Pegula: Swiatek Case Evokes Religion and Frustration
Organizers introduced a loaded lineup for the WTA 1000-level occasion, set for February 16-29, 2025.
Reigning Wimbledon winner and 2023 Dubai champion Barbora Krejcikova, 2023 semifinalist Jessica Pegula and 2018 finalist Daria Kasatkina are among the many notable names who’ve dedicated to the silver anniversary version of Dubai.
“This 12 months marks an necessary landmark as we have fun the twenty fifth anniversary of the WTA Championships in Dubai,” Ramesh Cidambi, Chairman of Dubai Obligation Free Tennis Championships Organizing Committee mentioned. “The event’s elevation to everlasting WTA 1000 standing final 12 months underlines the caliber of expertise this competitors constantly attracts and with the world’s high 10 gamers now confirmed to take part, Dubai continues to solidify its standing as a premier vacation spot on the worldwide tennis stage.”
Final February, Paolini reeled off 16 of the ultimate 19 factors combating off qualifier Anna Kalinskaya 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, in a dramatic Dubai Obligation Free Championships remaining comeback victory. Kalinskaya toppled No. 1 Swiatek en path to her greatest profession remaining.
By no means say die 🏆Jasmine Paolini claims her maiden WTA 1000 title in opposition to Kalinskaya 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 after coming from 3-5 down within the third!#DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/womQ9IprjG
— wta (@WTA) February 24, 2024
Exuding vitality and defiance, the 5’4” Italian stood tall snapping Kalinskaya’s seven-match profitable streak to win her second profession title.
“It’s so particular—I’m actually completely satisfied,” Paolini mentioned. “It was a extremely powerful match. She’s taking part in unbelievable. She performed unbelievable all week.
“I’m actually completely satisfied to come back again it was actually powerful. I attempted to remain targeted each level, to imagine it, it went very well. I’m actually happy with myself.”
Paolini’s title run was a prelude of optimistic issues to come back: She went on to change into the primary lady since Serena Williams in 2016 to succeed in the Roland Garros and Wimbledon finals in same-season succession.
