Swiatek warms up for US Open with Cincinnati success
Paolini jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first set on Monday night but Swiatek roared back to go ahead 5-3. The Italian broke serve to even at 5-5, but Swiatek closed out a first-set victory in 56 minutes.
Paolini broke serve twice in the second set to get within 5-4, but the Pole was able to serve out the match for her 24th career singles title.
Swiatek has won all six meetings against the current world No.9, dropping only one set in those matches.
She had failed to advance past the semi-finals in her six previous appearances at the Cincinnati Open. Swiatek reached the final four in each of the past two years, but lost to eventual champions Coco Gauff in 2023 and Aryna Sabalenka in 2024.
Seventh seed Paolini is the first Italian woman to reach the final in Cincinnati. Since she was a qualifier in 2023, she has reached two grand slam singles finals, won a grand slam doubles title and an Olympic gold medal.
The Cincinnati Open is considered a tune-up for the US Open, which begins on Sunday in New York. The last two years, both the men's and women's Cincinnati Open champions went on to win the final grand slam tournament of the year.
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