Italian Jasmine Paolini has reached Transylvania Open final after defeating No. 7 seed Xiyu Wang in more than two hours, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.
In an intense match, Paolini managed to find the right answers against Wang’s aggressive, but balanced tennis. As she has been proving during all this week, Paolini played the important points excellently, hung on to every ball and did a tremendous job in defense.
Suffering from an abdominal injury (after the knee one), Wang fought back remarkably, hoping to turn the course of the semifinal. But her serve was affected after the medical treatment she received in the locker room, so she couldn’t rely anymore on this weapon so effective in her game.
Paolini will play, therefore, her first WTA final of the year, against the Russian Anna Blinkova, with whom she has met four times so far (2-2 in direct matches).
Jasmine Paolini: "It is very hard to play against Xiyu, I tried to find a way to win. I am very happy because I am in the final."#TO2022 pic.twitter.com/4OJsAkEfbG
— Transylvania Open (@TransylvaniaOpn) October 15, 2022
Jasmine goes to the final!
Jasmine Paolini ends Xiyu Wang's brave run in Cluj with a tough 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 win, for her first final of the season!#TO2022 pic.twitter.com/SXjPDH30iE
— Transylvania Open (@TransylvaniaOpn) October 15, 2022
Jasmine got herself a few new fans in Cluj ☺️#TO2022 pic.twitter.com/dD62CmWUpD
— Transylvania Open (@TransylvaniaOpn) October 15, 2022
