Jasmine Paolini Reveals Gameplan to Tackle Tough Iga Swiatek in Cincinnati Final

Jasmine Paolini will be aiming to win her career’s first match against Iga Swiatek when they face each other in the Cincinnati Masters final.

Jasmine Paolini Reveals Gameplan to Tackle Tough Iga Swiatek in Cincinnati Final

Iga Swiatek, Jasmine Paolini (Image via X/The Tennis Letter, Jasmine Paolini)

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Jasmine Paolini will win her career’s fourth singles title only if she overcomes Iga Swiatek. They are pitted against in the final of the Cincinnati Masters, scheduled to take place on Monday (August 18).

Swiatek is the favorite to win, given that the Italian ace has not yet won a match against her in the past five encounters. This season, they met in the semifinal of the Bad Homburg Open, which Swiatek won in straight sets to reach her career’s first grass-court final (but lost to Jessica Pegula).

Yeah, the game plan is always to try to be aggressive and especially with the serve, trying to serve well, good percentage, and when I have the chance to step on court and to make her run…she’s running very well. So it’s going to be tough, but you know, the goal is to play a good match and to try to stay there every point and to make…to put a good level on the court.

Jasmine Paolini told Tennis Channel

Before setting up the clash with Swiatek, Paolini overcame Veronika Kudermetova in three sets, while the Pole went past 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina. Both Paolini and Swiatek have lifted one title so far this season.

Swiatek, after losing the Bad Homburg Open final to Pegula, reached the Wimbledon final for the first time in her career and ended her campaign by double-bageling Amanda Anisimova. The 29-year-old claimed the Italian Open by breezing past Coco Gauff.

Paolini has so far lifted two WTA 1000 singles titles- the first was the 2024 Dubai Open, and the second was this year’s Italian Open. Swiatek has 10 WTA 1000 trophies to her name, but the last one she claimed was at the 2024 Italian Open by beating World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka. Both players have reached the Cincinnati Masters final for the first time in their careers.

Iga Swiatek on her match against Elena Rybakina

Iga Swiatek has improved her head-to-head record over Elena Rybakina to 6-4 after their latest match. It was also their fourth encounter this season after meetings at the United Cup, in the quarterfinals of the Doha Open, and in the fourth round of the Roland Garros. The Kazakh ace is now 0-4 against the six-time Grand Slam champion this year.

Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek (via X/The Tennis Letter)
Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek (via X/The Tennis Letter)

It was a very tough match. At first, the level was quite crazy. We were playing so fast that sometimes we couldn’t even reach the second ball. I was there to play with intensity and good quality. I’m very happy with my performance. I served well, which helped me a lot, and I wouldn’t change anything from today’s match.

Iga Swiatek said during her on-court interview

Rybakina played her career’s first semifinal in Cincinnati. Now she will have to wait for the US Open to start her bid for her second title of the season.

The lone title she has lifted so far this season is the Strasbourg Open, by beating Liudmila Samsonova. Rybakina hasn’t yet played a WTA 1000 final since the 2024 Miami Open, where Danielle Collins beat her. She is a two-time champion in WTA 1000 tournaments, and the last title she lifted in this category is the 2023 Italian Open.

Iga Swiatek will become World No.2 if she beats Jasmine Paolini

Swiatek currently stands in third position on the live rankings with 7583 points, while second-placed Coco Gauff has 7874. Gauff, the 2023 Cincinnati Open champion, fell in three sets in the quarterfinal against Paolini.

Iga Swiatek (3)
Iga Swiatek (Image via X/Jimmie48 Photography)

If Swiatek beats Paolini, she will have 7933 points, meaning she will remove Gauff and occupy the second position. Sabalenka will continue to stay on top comfortably despite failing to defend her title.

Also read: (Video) Iga Swiatek Gets Into an Awkward Confrontation With Interviewer After Reaching Cincinnati Open Final