2024 WTA Dubai 1000

I can only think that Cirstea got really tight given the occasion, as a favorite with the final on the line.

I don't dislike Paolini, but I hope she gets beaten pretty bad in the final. Giorgi is, and should remain, the last Italian woman to win a Masters title.
why is that?
Other than winning the Canadian Open, Giorgi never reached QF of WTA 1000.
I thought Paolini was under 25, but she's 28.
 

coolcamden

Hall of Fame
why is that?
Other than winning the Canadian Open, Giorgi never reached QF of WTA 1000.
I thought Paolini was under 25, but she's 28.
It’s called fan devotion, Naomi. Nothing logical about that. 8-B

Yes, Jasmine, and Kalinskaya are not young. Been loitering in ITF for a long while. Love it when people bloom late.
 

D-Lite

Hall of Fame
I missed this match. Kalinskaya had to play 2 extra qualies matches and now has a 7-match winning streaks. Three of those against top-10. Quite impressive.
Hopefully she wins the title tomorrow just because she beat Gauff then Swiatek back to back. In addition, she also beat Ostapenko who's only been beaten by Azarenka this year I believe? Paolini got a W/O against Rybakina. She's beaten some good players this week but it would be a shame for Kalinskaya to be pipped to the post after what's she achieved so far this tournament.
 

Connor35

Semi-Pro
I love Iga, but her forehand was really sailing today (that's usually the case when she loses, and doesn't happen often).

Even got a warning for racquet abuse.
 
I thought Paolini was under 25
She's not under 25, but she's def under 5'2.

An amazing worker who somehow turned herself into quite the player. And even more amazingly, not a moonballing clay court grinder, but an aggressive hard-hitting HC specialist. Massive respect.(for her, and of course for Renzo Furlan - whose career best ranking she has now surpassed)

She also slimmed down somewhat and has actually become kinda cute.
 

coolcamden

Hall of Fame
She's not under 25, but she's def under 5'2.

An amazing worker who somehow turned herself into quite the player. And even more amazingly, not a moonballing clay court grinder, but an aggressive hard-hitting HC specialist. Massive respect.(for her, and of course for Renzo Furlan - whose career best ranking she has now surpassed)

She also slimmed down somewhat and has actually become kinda cute.

Disagree with “kinda”. She’s Totally Cute.
 

Zetty

Hall of Fame
I love Iga, but her forehand was really sailing today (that's usually the case when she loses, and doesn't happen often).

Even got a warning for racquet abuse.
AK was really opening up the court well against her forehand cross and then attacking her on the next shot with the forehand DTL. There were definitely UE but most of it was forced because of her excellent play. And she didn't give her a chance to get back into those points even if the ball came back.
 

tennis4me

Hall of Fame
AK was really opening up the court well against her forehand cross and then attacking her on the next shot with the forehand DTL. There were definitely UE but most of it was forced because of her excellent play. And she didn't give her a chance to get back into those points even if the ball came back.
But ... but, that's not what Iga said. Apparently it was not because of AK's level of play that caused the loss, but it was Iga's level that's not as high as usual.

 

Gizo

Hall of Fame
I'm looking forward to today's final, and will be happy whoever wins. As I said earlier, I've started to like Paolini more and more recently thanks to her groundstrokes, athleticism and feistiness.

And Kalinskaya beating Ostapenko (her laughing at Ostapenko's behaviour during that match was hilarious), Gauff and Swiatek in succession is excellent going.

Either Paolini winning her 2nd WTA title (with her previous one coming back in latish 2021 at a smaller event), or Kalinskaya winning her first ever WTA title, and a such a big event with a strong draw to boot, would be a nice storyline.
 

coolcamden

Hall of Fame
Woke up and tuned in at 4-4. AK won 8 of next 10 points. Last time they met AK won 4 and 2. Same here me thunk…
 

slipgrip93

Professional
I'm still new to AK. I do hope to see more kinds and depth of play and shots from her than mostly hitting early, flattish-hard and deep.
(well she had some nice overheads in the prior match vs. Swiatek)
 

slipgrip93

Professional
Paolini hitting well to stay in this. UE's increasing with AK, and she's looking at her coach with the pressure which I don't recall that happening as much vs. Gauff or Swiatek. more of a match now.
 

PMF

Semi-Pro
I’m fairly impressed with Jasmine‘s ball striking. I almost want to demo the VCore 100 again, but I know it’s all her. Looks like she’s using PTP yellow string with no visible lead on the hoop.
 

norcal

Legend
Anna reminds me of Karatsev, super clean ball striker with pretty effortless power, little emotion and you have the feeling they can go off the rails at any second lol.

Good matchup!
 

PMF

Semi-Pro
That was fun to watch. Anna lost her nerve in the final game, but it was because of the pressure from Jasmine. Well done.
 

slipgrip93

Professional
great ball striking, defense, and going for the lines from both, but Jasmine was in her zone longer and figured out AK's shots.
 

ScottleeSV

Hall of Fame
Amazing win for Paolini. Not sure it will lead to much more but she's achieved something incredible today, certainly.

Kalinskaya really threw it away. From 5-4 15-0 she hit all sorts of errors. Tbh she almost gave it away yesterday; if Swiatek hadn't missed an easy forehand it would have been 5-5 after being 5-2 double break.

Kalinskaya's body language during matches isn't easy to read. She's a bit like Rybakina. Hard to tell what she was feeling near the end, whereas you could see Paolini living every moment, good and bad. Kalinskaya seemed a bit chilled out about winning and losing, but probably she's just naturally reserved.
 

coolcamden

Hall of Fame
So well deserved. 28 years old. Old People Rules.

Feeling great for AK. Lost in the finals due to nerves and tiredness, but she should feel great taken out Osty, Coco and Iga. And still the prettiest lady in tennis.
 
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