CINCINNATI/WASHINGTON, August 19, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)
From her opening-round match at the WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open last week through to Monday evening’s championship match at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, No. 3 seed Iga Swiatek of Poland played like a World No. 1 player. She played above her level when it mattered most.
By defeating seventh-seeded Jasmine Paolini of Italy, 7-5, 6-4, in an hour and 49 minutes on P&G Center Court to win her 24th career title – second one this season after garnering her sixth major crown at the Wimbledon Championships in July with a 6-0, 6-0 triumph over American Amanda Anisimova – and 11th career WTA 1000 trophy, Swiatek will head to the US Open starting Sunday as the No. 2-ranked player in the WTA. It means she will be seeded second and in the opposite half of the draw from top seed and current No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. It’s the first step toward Swiatek reclaiming her former World No. 1 ranking, which she held for a total of 125 weeks.
Her moment pic.twitter.com/X5Dnkr3WBg
— Cincinnati Open (@CincyTennis) August 19, 2025
Looking back, Swiatek didn’t drop a set en route to winning – and lifting – the hand-painted, ceramic Rookwood Cup, which is awarded to the Cincinnati Open champion. She compiled impressive victories over Russian Anastasia Potapova, No. 25 seed Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, Sorana Cirstea of Romania, No. 28 seed Anna Kalinskaya of Russia, No. 9 seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan and Paolini to become the first Polish champion in the history of the event. Each one was won supremely well – and Swiatek got better as the tournament wore on. In her seventh Cincinnati appearance, it was the first time she had reached the final after losing three times in the semifinal round. Swiatek also earned qualification for the WTA Finals in Riyadh later this year.
What it means pic.twitter.com/KEyU2H1vBd
— Cincinnati Open (@CincyTennis) August 19, 2025
Speaking with pure joy, Swiatek gave props to Paolini during her trophy ceremony speech. “Congrats for the whole tournament,” she said. “As usual, you’re playing great. Hopefully, we’re going to play the final at the US Open in the next two weeks. Thanks for being such a positive person in the locker room. There’s not many of us who are so positive on a daily basis. It’s always good to see you. Thanks for that and congrats to your team for an amazing effort and work. It was a pleasure.”
Meanwhile, Paolini, a finalist last year at both Roland-Garros and Wimbledon, set up a rematch of her 2024 French Open final against Swiatek by rallying from a set down to defeat No. 2 seed Coco Gauff of the United States to reach her third career WTA 1000 final. She’s the first Italian woman to reach the Cincinnati title match.
“I want to congratulate Iga,” Paolini said during the trophy ceremony, congratulating Swiatek. “You’re playing amazing. You really deserve this title. Congrats to you and your team.”
Against the World No. 9 Paolini, a winner of two previous WTA 1000 titles in Dubai last year and last spring in Rome, Swiatek showed grace under pressure and fought her way through the summer heat. By the end, the Polish superstar compiled nine aces to overcome seven double faults, won 67 percent (31 of 46) of her first-serve points, saved six of 10 break points she faced and converted all six of her break-point chances against Paolini, who won 65 percent (24 of 37) of her first-serve points. Swiatek outpointed Paolini 77-65.
Another Jewel in Her Crown!
Iga Swiatek defeats Paolini 7-5, 6-4 to take home the Cincinnati Open title for the first time!#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/crZE4FvvYb
— wta (@WTA) August 19, 2025
As the championship final unfolded, Paolini started quickly and sandwiched a service break between a pair of holds to take an early 3-0 lead. However, Swiatek, who came into the final with a 5-0 head-to-head advantage and had dropped only one set against the diminutive Italian, got the break back in the fifth game and consolidated it to draw even at 3-all.
Next, with a break point in her favor, Swiatek won an eight-shot rally and capped it by hitting a forehand winner to break Paolini for a second time in the set to take a 4-3 lead. Like she did in the sixth game, Swiatek stood tough and held serve – winning her fifth consecutive game to push ahead 5-3 – but Paolini remained tough and broke back to level the set at 5-all.
However, Swiatek proved her mettle and broke Paolini for the third time during the 57-minute set and closed it out strong with a love hold to win the opener 7-5.
WHAT A POINT @JasminePaolini | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/fDHVkwTZZv
— Cincinnati Open (@CincyTennis) August 18, 2025
Then, in the second set, Paolini drew even by breaking Swiatek in the sixth game after winning a back-and-forth, 18-shot rally with a forehand passing-shot winner up the line. However, Swiatek immediately broke back with a forehand winner that Paolini was unable to get a racquet on, and saved two break points during the ensuing game. She consolidated the break with her eighth ace to grab a 5-3 advantage.
Paolini remained resilient in holding her serve in hopes of pulling even with another break of Swiatek – and, perhaps, pulling out the set to force a decider. However, Swiatek came up clutch and served out the title victory, winning it on her first championship point with an ace out wide. She clenched her fist in celebration and pointed her right index finger toward her brain. Indeed, it was a thinking-woman’s triumph, which was Swiatek’s 49th victory of the season.
Sealed with an ace
The moment @iga_swiatek secured the 2025 Cincinnati Open title #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/CkgLgtb8Gc
— wta (@WTA) August 19, 2025
Later, during a sit-down interview with Tennis Channel, Swiatek called winning the Cincinnati title “a great boost of confidence.
“I’m really happy that the work I’ve been doing has paid off. I’m super happy with the process that we had. Everything clicked and I played better and better with each match of the tournament,” she said.
Next, Swiatek is scheduled to compete in the revamped US Open mixed doubles event, teaming with Casper Ruud of Norway, which begins Tuesday.
Shine on, champ pic.twitter.com/jLKavws1rm
— Cincinnati Open (@CincyTennis) August 19, 2025
By the numbers
By winning the Cincinnati Open title, Iga Swiatek has now won 11 WTA 1000 crowns – second behind only Serena Williams, who won 13 WTA 1000 titles.
“Quotable …”
“Thank you for forcing me to become a better player and learning how to play on these faster surfaces. I’m shocked and super happy. Thank you for the constant support to my team and my family back home.”
– Iga Swiatek, during her trophy ceremony speech, thanking her team and family for their constant support.
