DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – In a moment of pure happiness for Jasmine Paolini (ITA) – truly the happiest she has ever been on a tennis court - the Yonex ambassador won the biggest title of her career at the WTA 1000 tournament in Dubai.
Paolini's smile told you how delighted she was to have found a way to win, having been so close to defeat on the most important occasion of her tennis life. That was confirmed by her comments after the match - she was "really happy". Moments later, she said she was "just so happy". The Italian also used words like "unbelievable" to describe her 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory over Anna Kalinskaya, having trailed 3-5 in the final set before coming back to take the last four games. It brought Paolini her second WTA title, three years after her first in Portoroz, and propelled her into the top 20 in the WTA Rankings for the first time.
Paolini's success in Dubai - holding that trophy in her hands was a special moment for her - built on what had been a hugely encouraging start to the season at the Australian Open where she reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time.
Paolini is feeling good about the tennis she has been playing with her Yonex racquet this season, as she should do. "I'm proud of all the work I made this year. It's not easy to bring this work in the match sometimes. Yeah, I'm playing good tennis. I played well at the end of the last season. I started well the season with the second week [at the] Australian Open," said Paolini. A change in Paolini's mental approach helped her to have the best week of her career. "Now I try to be more relaxed on court, to try to think more what I have to do, to be more present every point. I think it works. It's not going to be every week like this, of course, but I'm trying to do my best."
It was a strong week for Team Yonex in Dubai. Four of the quarterfinalists were Yonex ambassadors as Elena Rybakina (KAZ), Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) and Sorana Cirstea (ROU) also made the last eight.
