Jasmine Paolini overcame nerves to beat Veronika Kudermetova, and now she is warning Iga Swiatek that she "likes the Cincinnati conditions" and that she isready "to fight" for thetitle.
On Sunday, the Italian tennis star was cruising toward a routine straight-set win. But leading 6-3 5-3, the No. 7 seed got tight and ended up losing the second set. Fortunately for the two-time Grand Slam finalist, she managed to stay calm and get the job done in the decider for a 6-3 6-7 (2) 6-3 victory.
Until that moment everything was fine. I was okay, I was focused, a bit relaxed. And then I was really nervous. I said to myself after losing the tiebreak that I had to step back and move forward, you know, be in the present and not think about what happened. That was the key to forget, to fight and be in the present," Paolini admitted afterward.
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Paolini comments on facing Swiatekin the Cincinnati final
Before the Italian beat Kudermetova, the Pole ousted Elena Rybakina 7-5 6-3.
So far in their careers, Paolini and Swiatek have met five times. And the pole has dominated their head-to-head so far, winning all of those five meetings, with only one dropped set. The Italian's head-to-head against the six-time Grand Slam champion may not be perfect but she isn't lacking any optimism going into the Cincinnati final.
Its been really tough against her (Iga). Shes an amazing player. She defends really well. Serving good. Im trying to do my best. We are in the final. I like the conditions. Lets fight," the No. 7 seed said.
After Swiatek annihilated Paolini 6-2 6-1 in last year's French Open final, the Italian competed much better in their Billie Jean King Cup meeting but the Pole still won it 3-6 6-4 6-4 after completing a comeback. In their most recent meeting in this year's Bad Homburg semifinal, the Polish tennis star won 6-1 6-3.
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Paolini doesn't have a win against Swiatek but she is 2-0 in her WTA 1000 finals played.
