By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday September 19, 2021
Jasmine Paolini capped off a strong week with a straight-sets win over Alison Riske for her first WTA title.
Photo Source: Portoroz
Italy’s Jasmine Paolini flicked the switch and ran through 11 of the final 14 games to take down third-seeded American Alison Riske in the Zavarovalnica Sava Portoroz final on Sunday, 7-6(4), 6-2.
For the unseeded Italian, 25 years old and ranked 87, it capped a glorious week that saw her defeat four seeded players and claim her maiden WTA title.
"I think it’s been an amazing week here in Portoroz," Paolini said, after the match. "I feel just very happy, it’s a big achievement for me, to win my first title. On hardcourts, it’s special."
It was a slow start for the Italian after the match began nearly three hours later than scheduled, due to rain.
Paolini rallied from 5-2 and a double break down in the opening set, notching three straight games to level at 5-all before taking the opening-set tiebreak.
In the second set she took the final four games on the trot to clinch victory in one hour and 45 minutes.
Paolini will rise to a career-high ranking of 64 in Monday’s WTA rankings.
Riske drops to 2-8 lifetime in WTA finals with the loss.
"I’m working really hard in the past couple of months," Paolini said. "I understood more about my game, I think. I just want to keep this level for all the season that is almost finished, and to stay strong and keep this level."