Paolini downs giant-slayer Kalinskaya to win Dubai Championships

The 26th-ranked Paolini came back from a set down to win 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 and will enter the top 20 next week for the first time.

Italy’s Jasmine Paolini celebrates winning the final against Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Italian Jasmine Paolini fought back from a set down to beat qualifier Anna Kalinskaya 4-6 7-5 7-5 in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Saturday to secure her second WTA singles title.

Kalinskaya, the Australian Open quarter-finalist, had been on a giant-killing run in Dubai, having stunned world number one Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals after knocking out U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff and Jelena Ostapenko in the previous rounds.

The Russian took the opening set, but Paolini mounted a comeback and levelled the tie - only to then find herself in trouble in the decider as she slipped to within a game of defeat at 3-5.

But she kept her composure to seal the win, becoming only the fourth player in 24 years to win the final in Dubai after dropping the first set.

The 26th-ranked Paolini came back from a set down to win 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 and will enter the top 20 next week for the first time.