Jasmine Paolini made an impressive statement at the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open by defeating Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals. This victory, with a score of 6-1, 6-2, marked a notable turnaround for the Italian player, who had previously lost six encounters against Swiatek. The match took place at the Optics Valley International Tennis Centre and lasted just 65 minutes.
Paolini’s Historic Victory
Coming into the match, Paolini had only managed to win a single set in her previous meetings with Swiatek. However, on a warm Friday night, she displayed remarkable skill and aggression. Paolini broke Swiatek’s serve three times, earning her all six break points faced. Her performance included 15 winners and just three unforced errors.
- Match duration: 65 minutes
- Winners by Paolini: 15
- Unforced errors by Paolini: 3
- Break points won by Paolini: 6 out of 6
Expressing her joy afterward, Paolini stated, “Finally I won a match. I’m super happy about my level. Just feels amazing.”
Upcoming Semifinals Against Coco Gauff
Paolini is set to face No. 3 Coco Gauff in the semifinal, which will take place at 5 p.m. local time on Saturday. Gauff previously had success against Paolini, winning their first two meetings in Adelaide and Cincinnati in 2021 and 2023. However, Paolini has since won three consecutive matches against Gauff, including their most recent three encounters this season.
Implications for the WTA Finals
This victory boosts Paolini’s chances of securing a spot in the final singles qualifying for the PIF WTA Finals in Riyadh, particularly following the earlier defeat of Elena Rybakina. Rybakina was knocked out by Aryna Sabalenka, while Jessica Pegula’s quarterfinal win confirmed her qualifying status for the Finals.
Paolini’s Strong Season
Notably, Paolini’s win over Swiatek is her 41st main-draw victory on the WTA Tour in 2025, surpassing her previous year’s tally. She holds 26 WTA 1000 wins this year, placing her second behind Swiatek, who has 28.
Earlier in the day, Coco Gauff secured her semifinal position with a dominant 6-3, 6-0 victory over Laura Siegemund. Gauff has excelled in China, leading the Hologic WTA Tour with 15 victories in the past two years and achieving a historic feat by reaching five consecutive semifinals in WTA 1000 events in China.
