Jasmine Paolini Withdraws from US Open Mixed Doubles After Reaching Cincinnati Open Final: “I Need Some Rest”

Lorenzo Musetti will be playing with Caty McNally instead of Jasmine Paolini in the US Open mixed doubles.

Jasmine Paolini Withdraws from US Open Mixed Doubles After Reaching Cincinnati Open Final: “I Need Some Rest”

Jasmine Paolini (Image via Instagram/Jasmine Paolini)

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Jasmine Paolini is into her first Cincinnati Masters final. But to win the title on Monday (August 18), she has to tackle a huge challenge in the form of third seed Iga Swiatek.

On Tuesday, she and Lorenzo Musetti were scheduled to play their first mixed doubles match at the US Open. The US Open has revamped its mixed-doubles format completely, and it has attracted the top singles players in its hope to make the event more interesting. But the schedule has made it difficult for Paolini to feature in mixed doubles.

I don’t know if I can say that (laughs). I mean, to me, I need some rest, guys. So, I’m not going to play the mixed doubles. I decide with my team to rest one or two days after this tournament because it’s been a tough tournament. I would love to play with Lorenzo, and hopefully the next year,you know, and hopefully, we have the chance to play again. But I’m sorry.

Jasmine Paolini told Tennis Channel

Swiatek is also participating in mixed doubles, along with three-time Grand Slam finalist Casper Ruud. But she has not made any comments regarding her participation. The pair will lock horns with Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe in the opening round. If they reach the quarterfinals, they will face the team of Naomi Osaka and Gael Monfils or the team of Caty McNally and Musetti.

Paolini has never played mixed doubles in the Grand Slam events. In doubles, however, she and compatriot Sara Errani lifted this year’s French Open by beating the pair of Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic. Musetti has also played doubles in Grand Slam events but has never participated in mixed doubles.

Jasmine Paolini on her match against Iga Swiatek in the Cincinnati Masters final

Jasmine Paolini has not won a single match in her past five meetings against Iga Swiatek. Prior to Cincinnati, they met in the semifinals of the Stuttgart Open, which Swiatek won in straight sets. Only once their match was extended to three sets, at the Billie Jean Cup last year, and it was held on hard court. In their first meeting on hard court, in the first round of the 2022 US Open, Swiatek even handed a bagel to the 29-year-old.

Jasmine Paolini, Iga Swiatek
Jasmine Paolini, Iga Swiatek (Image via X/WTA)

It’ll be really tough against her (laughs). Yeah, she is an amazing player and it’s always hard playing against her as she defends very well and…serves good as well. So it will be difficult, but you know I’m trying to do my best. We are in the final. I like the conditions here, so…let’s fight, and hopefully it is going to be a good match.

Jasmine Paolini said in her on-court interview

Before this season, the World No.9 had never reached the semifinals of the Cincinnati Masters. Also, prior to this season, she played two WTA 1000 finals in singles, winning both: at the 2024 Dubai Open by beating Anna Kalinskaya and in this year’s Italian Open by defeating Coco Gauff. It’s the only title she has won this season in singles.

The third seed has now made it to 13 WTA 1000 finals and is bidding to win her 11th title in this category. The last WTA 1000 title she lifted was at the 2024 Italian Open, by beating Aryna Sabalenka. Swiatek is also chasing her second title of the season after her triumph over Amanda Anisimova in the Wimbledon final.

En route to the final, the six-time Grand Slam champion knocked out Elena Rybakina in the semifinals, while Paolini went past Veronika Kudermetova. If Swiatek wins, she will remove Gauff from the second position on the rankings table but will have to win a few more tournaments to dethrone Sabalenka and reclaim her No.1 ranking.

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