On a balmy Monday night in Cincinnati, tennis fans witnessed another chapter in Iga Swiatek’s remarkable 2025 resurgence as she captured the Cincinnati Open title, defeating Italy’s Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-4. The victory not only marks Swiatek’s first triumph at this prestigious WTA 1000 event, but also cements her status as one of the sport’s most formidable forces heading into the U.S. Open.
Swiatek, ranked No. 3 in the world, arrived at the Lindner Family Tennis Center riding a wave of confidence. Having recently lifted the Wimbledon trophy and reached the finals in three of her past four tournaments, her momentum was palpable. For Paolini, ranked No. 7 and the first Italian woman ever to reach the Cincinnati final, the match was a chance to showcase her season’s grit and growth on one of tennis’s biggest stages.
The opening set was anything but predictable. Paolini, undaunted by Swiatek’s reputation and their lopsided head-to-head (Swiatek had won all five prior meetings, losing just one set), stormed out to a 3-0 lead. Her aggressive returns and fearless baseline play rattled the Pole early on. But Swiatek, known for her tactical depth and mental resilience, clawed her way back. She reeled off five consecutive games to seize a 5-3 advantage, only for Paolini to break back and level at 5-5. The first set, a rollercoaster in its own right, ended after 56 minutes with Swiatek breaking serve once more to claim it 7-5.
“I don’t know why I won tournaments that were the last ones, in terms of what I thought the probability (was) going to be in terms of me playing well,” Swiatek shared in her on-court interview, visibly elated. “I’m shocked and I’m super happy.”
The second set continued the theme of momentum swings. Swiatek’s eighth ace of the night gave her a crucial 5-3 lead, but Paolini was not finished. The Italian broke serve twice in the set, narrowing the gap to 5-4 and threatening to force a decider. Yet, Swiatek’s composure under pressure was on full display as she served out the match, clinching her 24th career singles title without dropping a set the entire tournament. Her serving, particularly in high-pressure moments, was a difference-maker, and she finished the match with eight aces.
For Swiatek, this Cincinnati crown is especially sweet. She had failed to advance past the semifinals in her previous six appearances at the event, falling to eventual champions Coco Gauff in 2023 and Aryna Sabalenka in 2024. The Rookwood Cup now fills one of the few remaining gaps in her WTA 1000 collection. By securing her 11th WTA 1,000-level title, Swiatek moves to second all-time, trailing only Serena Williams, who boasts 13 such trophies.
Paolini’s run, meanwhile, is nothing short of inspirational. Since qualifying at Cincinnati just two years ago, she’s reached two Grand Slam singles finals, captured a Grand Slam doubles title, and even claimed Olympic gold. “I came here after two difficult months, and to make a final (and) to find my level again, was great,” Paolini reflected on court, her voice tinged with both pride and determination.
The head-to-head between these two has been one-sided. Swiatek is now 6-0 against Paolini, with only a single set lost across their meetings. Yet, the Italian’s journey to this final—marked by a gritty three-set win over Veronika Kudermetova in the semifinals despite injury—underscores her rapid ascent in the WTA ranks. Her ability to rally the crowd and fight through adversity has made her a fan favorite and a genuine threat on any surface.
The Cincinnati Open, widely regarded as a key tuneup for the U.S. Open, has often been a harbinger of Grand Slam success. In each of the past two years, both the men’s and women’s Cincinnati champions have gone on to win in New York. With the U.S. Open looming—qualifiers already underway and the main draw set to be revealed on August 21—Swiatek and Paolini will have little time to rest before the season’s final major begins on August 24.
Swiatek’s path to the final was anything but easy. She dispatched the powerful Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-3 in the semifinals, displaying clinical precision and nerves of steel. Paolini, meanwhile, battled through her own semifinal in three sets, showcasing her trademark tenacity and joy for the game. The final, played in front of a packed Center Court and a global television audience via Tennis Channel, lived up to its billing as a clash of styles and wills.
This year’s Cincinnati Open also featured drama on the men’s side. Carlos Alcaraz claimed the men’s title earlier in the day after Jannik Sinner retired due to illness during the first set, adding another twist to a tournament already brimming with storylines. Alcaraz’s victory, much like Swiatek’s, positions him as a favorite heading into New York.
For Swiatek, the Cincinnati win is another milestone in a season that saw her drop to No. 8 in the rankings after a rare French Open stumble, only to rebound with a vengeance. Her run to the title here, coupled with her Wimbledon triumph, signals that she’s peaking at just the right time. She now rises to No. 2 on the WTA Tour, a testament to her consistency and hunger for more.
Paolini, too, will head to the U.S. Open with renewed confidence. Her finals appearances at the French Open and Wimbledon last year proved she belongs among the elite, and her Cincinnati campaign has propelled her back into the WTA’s top eight. The Italian’s resilience—especially after a challenging couple of months—suggests she’s far from finished making headlines in 2025.
As the tennis world turns its attention to New York, both Swiatek and Paolini will be eager to build on their Cincinnati performances. The singles draw for the U.S. Open promises new matchups and fresh drama, but if Cincinnati is any indication, both women are primed for deep runs. Swiatek, in particular, will look to extend her run of form and perhaps add another Grand Slam trophy to her growing collection.
With the Rookwood Cup in hand and momentum on her side, Iga Swiatek leaves Cincinnati as the player to watch. Jasmine Paolini, meanwhile, departs with her head held high, having made history for Italian tennis and signaled that her best may still be ahead. The stage is set for a thrilling U.S. Open, and fans can hardly wait to see what happens next.
