Paolini Wins Dubai Tennis Championship Title

Italian Jasmine Paolini overcame a one-set deficit to defeat Anna Kalinskaya, a qualifier, with scores of 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 in the Dubai Tennis Championship final on Saturday, claiming her second WTA singles title. Kalinskaya, who reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, impressed during her run in Dubai, shocking world number one Iga Swiatek in the semifinals after eliminating US Open champion Coco Gauff and 2017 French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko in previous rounds. The Russian player won the first set, but Paolini rallied back to level the match. In the deciding set, Paolini found herself in a tough spot, trailing 3-5 and just a game away from defeat. However, she remained composed and secured the victory, becoming only the fourth player in 24 years to win the Dubai final after losing the first set.