By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, August 18, 2025
Photo credit: Cincinnati Open Facebook
Striations scarred the yellow ball from the punishing power of Iga Swiatek’s strings.
Swiatek spent this tournament tattooing the tennis ball and tearing through the Cincinnati Open field with stylish determination.
The third-seeded Swiatek stopped Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-4 to capture her maiden Cincinnati Open championship and her 24th career title tonight.
It is Swiatek’s 11th WTA 1000 title—only legendary Serena Williams (13) has won more—and she did it without surrendering a set sealing this one hour, 49-minute final by torching an ace out wide.
Sealed with an ace 💫
The moment @iga_swiatek secured the 2025 Cincinnati Open title 🏆#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/CkgLgtb8Gc
— wta (@WTA) August 19, 2025
“Congrats [to Jasmine] for the whole tournament you’re playing great and hopefully we’re gonna play the finals at the US Open in two weeks,” Swiatek said. “Most importantly thanks for being such a positive person in the locker room it’s always good to see you so thanks for that and congrats to your team for amazing work. It was a pleasure.”
A sharp Swiatek dispatched Anastasia Potapova, Sorana Cirstea, Anna Kalinskaya, Elena Rybakina and Paolini without permitting a set amid sometimes sweltering Cincy conditions.
The third-seeded Swiatek converted all six break points she earned and won 19 of 27 points played on the Paolini second serve.
The Wimbledon champion claimed her second title of the season, surpassed Coco Gauff for the world No. 2 ranking, which propels her to the second seed for this month’s US Open, and solidified her status as the player to beat in Flushing Meadows.
Even in defeat—her sixth loss in six meetings vs. Swiatek—the perpetually-positive Paolini is a fun watch.
Tonight, the 5’4” Italian threw all she had at Swiatek—she tried playing deep, hit some short angles, came to net—but ultimately came up short against a faster, stronger and more explosive opponent.
“I want to congratulate Iga,” Paolini said. “Of course you were playing amazing and you really deserve this title….
“You guys were amazing, an amazing crowd, I really love to play here. It was an amazing two weeks. I came here after two difficult months to find my level again was great. Thank you for cheering for me from the first round to the finals. Thank you for pushing me during the matches, I really felt the love from you.”
At the outset, an eager Swiatek was over playing some shots and Paolini exploited it bursting out to a surprising 3-0 lead.
Credit Swiatek for continuing to fire away. She responded reeling off eight of the next nine points to spark a five-game run for 5-3. Paolini stopped the bleeding with a strong hold at 15.
The six-time Grand Slam champion served for the first set at 5-4 and ended a crackling rally with a forehand flash down the line for set point. Paolini pumped a forehand swing volley to saved it then coaxed a wild forehand as she broke back for 5-all with a loud “Come on!”
Resetting, Swiatek came right back drawing back-to-back netted errors with deep drives to break again for 6-5. By then, Swiatek had converted all three of her break-point opportunities.
This time, Swiatek made no mistake.
Sliding an ace out wide brought Swiatek a second set point. Swiatek banged a body serve to seal the 56-minute opener with a love hold.
Swiatek more than doubled Paolini’s winner output in a tight opening set—19 to 8—whipped the down the line drive effectively and her longer reach was evident as the Italian sometimes flicked her Yonex in vain at balls blurring by her.
Just @iga_swiatek things ™️#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/GMqNhOEsif
— wta (@WTA) August 18, 2025
The pair traded breaks to start the second set. Paolini stayed in step through four games.
Then the cumulative pressure of Swiatek’s twisting topspin drives pierced Paolini’s serve.
In a sloppy game, Paolini spit up her second double fault to face double break point. Flat-ling a forehand into net, the world No. 9 gifted the break and a 3-2 lead to Swiatek.
We see it but we don’t believe it 🤯@JasminePaolini | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/SccKYsTUb1
— wta (@WTA) August 18, 2025
Eighty-nine minutes into the final, Paolini produced a brilliant running forehand pass inciting an eruption from Cincy fans as she raised both arms toward the sky like a sprinter tearing through the tape to break back at 3-all.
Despite that highlight-reel play, Paolini could not sustain that lofty level as Swiatek swept a pair of forehand winners to break for 5-3.
That hold was a prelude of the final game as Swiatek slid her ninth ace out wide, flung her Tecnifibre aside in joy. That was the only time all tournament Swiatek looked disarmed.
