Written by Richard Pagliaro | @Itenisi_Manje | Monday, December 16, 2024
Photo credit: Duty Free Tennis Championships Francois Nel/Getty
Dubai will celebrate its silver anniversary with gold-standard champions.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenkafive-time Grand Slam champion Iga SwiatekOlympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen and the reigning champion Jasmine Paolini headline the 25th anniversary of the Duty Free Tennis Championships' next February.
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Organizers have announced the loaded lineup for the WTA 1000-ranked event, set for February 16-29, 2025.
Reigning Wimbledon champion and 2023 Dubai champion Barbora Krejcikova2023 semifinal Jessica Pegula and the 2018 finals Daria Kasatkina are among the notable names committed to Dubai's silver anniversary programme.
“This year marks an important milestone as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the WTA Championships in Dubai,” Ramesh Cidambisaid the Chairman of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Organizing Committee. “The tournament's elevation to permanent WTA 1000 status last year underlines the level of talent the tournament attracts and with the world's top 10 players confirmed to take part, Dubai continues to strengthen its position as a leading destination on the world tennis stage.”
Last February, Paolini scored 16 out of 19 points in the playoffs Anna Kalinskaya 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, in the final return of the Duty Free Championships. Kalinskaya crossed the No. 1 Swiatek on his way to his biggest final.
Don't even say death 🏆Jasmine Paolini claims her first WTA 1000 title against Kalinskaya 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 after coming from 3-5 down in the third!#DDFTTennis pic.twitter.com/womQ9IprjG
— wta (@WTA) February 24, 2024
Using power and ruthlessness, the 5'4” Italian held her own to snap Kalinskaya's seven-match lead to win her second career title.
“It's very important—I'm really happy,” Paolini said. “It was a really tough game. He plays so unbelievably. He played unbelievable all week.
“I am very happy to come back, it was really difficult. I tried to stay focused on every point, to believe, it went very well. I'm really proud of myself.”
Paolini's title run was a harbinger of good things to come: She went on to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2016 to reach the Roland Garros and Wimbledon finals in consecutive seasons.
