Iga Swiatek books WTA Final spot, sets up Cincinnati title clash with Paolini

Dubai: Iga Swiatek’s summer keeps getting brighter. The Polish star sealed her place in the final of the Cincinnati Open on Sunday with a battling 7-5, 6-3 win over Elena Rybakina — a result that not only carried her into another big final but also secured her qualification for the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh.

For Swiatek, the victory continues a season of renewed dominance. Last month she finally lifted her first Wimbledon crown, ending a year-long title drought in emphatic fashion with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Amanda Anisimova in the final. That triumph, the 23rd of her career, also made her the first Polish player in history to conquer the All-England Club. Now, after another deep run in Cincinnati, she becomes the second player — after world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka — to book her ticket to the season-ending showpiece in Saudi Arabia.

The 24-year-old already has fond memories of the tournament, having won the 2023 WTA Finals without dropping a set. Riyadh will mark her fifth straight appearance among the elite eight singles players and eight doubles teams competing for $15.5 million in prize money.

In Cincinnati, Swiatek had to dig deep to shake off Rybakina, who came in brimming with confidence after eliminating Sabalenka in the quarter-finals. The Kazakh, a former Wimbledon champion herself, surged ahead 5-3 in the first set before Swiatek flipped the momentum, sweeping the next four games. She then tightened her grip in the second, opening a 4-1 lead with relentless baseline hitting. Rybakina saved three break points in one game and even fended off two match points, but Swiatek’s composure never wavered as she closed out the contest in under two hours.

“It was a great match, very fast-paced,” Swiatek said afterwards. “I wanted to be there when Elena started making mistakes. I feel good about my game right now and wouldn’t change anything.”

The win gives her a shot at a 13th WTA 1000 crown, and standing in her way is Jasmine Paolini, who outlasted Veronika Kudermetova 6-3, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3. The 29-year-old Italian, a two-time Grand Slam finalist last year, showed resilience after failing to serve out the match in the second set. “The key was to forget, get back into the fight and stay in the present,” Paolini said.

Paolini may have nothing to lose on Monday, but history is stacked against her — Swiatek has beaten her in all five of their previous meetings, dropping just one set. Still, Paolini’s fearless run, which already includes a win over Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals, makes her a dangerous opponent.

For Swiatek, the bigger picture is clear. Another trophy in Cincinnati would be the perfect springboard into the US Open later this month. But beyond New York, Riyadh beckons once again — with the Billie Jean King Trophy firmly in her sights.