‘Giant killer’ Kalinskaya was left without a reward in Dubai

The Italian Jasmine Paolini He resisted every attack of the Russians Anna Kalinskaya until completing a solid comeback that led to victory in the tournament of dubai (4-6, 7-5 and 7-5) where he achieved the most important title of his career.

For the first time, a transalpine player won a trophy in this category. A WTA 1,000 which was close to Kalinskaya not knowing how to close the victory in a match that was resolved after two and a quarter hours.

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The Russian could not, for the first time in a final on the WTA circuit, end a dream week in which she managed to defeat the world number 1, the Polish Iga Swiatek in the semifinals, the third win against a top-10 in three days after losing Coco Gauff (3rd) and Jelena Ostapenko (9th).

Paolini also defeated notable rivals, leaving Greek Maria Sakkari, Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia and Canadian Leilah Fernandez on the way to the final.

Kalinskaya, ranked 40th in the women’s rankings, aged 25, dominated the first part of the final. He stands at 6-4 and 2-0. But there began the reaction of the transalpine woman, twenty-sixth in the WTA ranking and with the title of Portoroz, in 2021 as her only baggage.

However, the Italian, who has more experience in finals – he has lost three others – responded firmly and took the second set. Everything was left in hand in the final set with the Russian having the advantage. He had 5-3 and served at 5-4 to close out the victory. But Paolini went on a 4-0 run that ended up giving him the win and the title, his first in two and a half years.

This is the second time in three duels that the Italian beat the Russian. She certainly won in Portoroz, in 2021 but a few months ago, at the Australian Open, Kalinskaya got her revenge. Now, Paolini wins again. The match and the title.