© Getty Images Sport – Christopher Pike
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek had a disappointing end to her Dubai campaign but that didn’t prevent her from sending a very classy message to Jasmine Paolini following the Italian’s big day.
On Friday, No. 1 seed Swiatek exited Dubai in the semifinal stage after world No. 40 Anna Kalinskaya beat her 6-4 6-4 in the semifinal. For Swiatek – who won a WTA 1000 tournament in Doha – it was her first defeat after seven consecutive wins in the Middle East.
By beating Swiatek, 25-year-old Kalinskaya set up a Dubai final against 28-year-old Paolini – for both, it was their first WTA 1000 final. In the end, it was Paolini who ended up winning the title after beating Kalinskaya 4-6 7-5 7-5.
“Gratulacje (congratulations) Jasmine! What a week,” Swiatek wrote on X.
Gratulacje Jasmine!👏🏼👏🏼
What a week🤙🏼— Iga Świątek (@iga_swiatek) February 24, 2024
Paolini wins Dubai and receives a congratulatory message from Swiatek
Before coming back from a set down to beat Kalinskaya, Paolini was close to losing the match in two sets and then also to losing the match in three sets. At one point, Kalinskaya was up by a set and had a 3-1 lead in the…
