Italy’s Jasmine Paolini continued her incredible run of form with a gritty three-set victory over Veronika Kudermetova, winning 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-3 to advance to the Cincinnati Open final.
The contest was a battle of contrasting styles, with Paolini relying on her speed, counterpunching, and relentless consistency to blunt Kudermetova’s power. The Italian struck first, breaking early in the opening set and maintaining her edge to claim it 6-3.
The second set turned into a dogfight, with Kudermetova finding her rhythm on serve and striking more freely from the baseline. After both players exchanged breaks, it was the Russian who held her nerve in the tiebreak, forcing a deciding set.
But Paolini, showing the resilience that has defined her season, quickly regained control. Mixing depth with clever angles, she broke midway through the third set and never looked back. After two hours and 39 minutes of intense play, she sealed the win, booking her first-ever final appearance in Cincinnati.
For Paolini, this marks yet another milestone in a career-best season that has already seen her climb into the WTA top 10. Her victory sets up a thrilling showdown against World No. 2 Iga Świątek in the championship match — a clash between one of the sport’s most consistent stars and one of its fastest-rising contenders.
Kudermetova, meanwhile, exits the tournament with her head held high after a spirited run but will be left disappointed by her inability to maintain momentum in the decider.
