WTA 1000 Dubai 2/18 - 2/24 2024

[ashkor87]

What accounts for Paolini's astonishing success here?

[Suliso]

Being in the right place at the right time I would say (similar to Podoroska's GS SF) plus not giving up easily.

[meganfernandez]

Being in the right place at the right time I would say (similar to Podoroska's GS SF) plus not giving up easily.

Yeah, she got a walkover from Rybakina in the quarters. And evidently Paolini is playing well at this right place/time. I assume. Haven't seen her matches. Isn't she kind of Sakkari-like? Fast, feisty? Maybe I'm simplifying her game too much.

Her draw was: Haddad Maia, Fernandez, Sakkari, Rybakina, Cirstea. I don't now what happened to BHM in the first round, losing 4-6, 6-4, 6-0. That and the Rybakina W/O were a couple lucky breaks.

[Suliso]

Fast certainly and a good fighter, but also small (1.63 m) and underpowered.

[meganfernandez]

Fast certainly and a good fighter, but also small (1.63 m) and underpowered.

I think of Sakkari as small and not exactly powerful, shot for shot. She's muscular and has some power, but I don't think of her as a power player. Am I wrong?

[Suliso]

Paolini is Cibulkova size, but not as powerful. Sakkari is only a bit below average for a tennis player.

[ashkor87]

If she beats Swiatek or even takes a set, we will know she has made huge improvements- else we can put it down to a good draw and good play ..

[mick1303]

If she beats Swiatek or even takes a set, we will know she has made huge improvements- else we can put it down to a good draw and good play ..

You were too quick to pencil Swiatek in...

[jazzyg]

I thought Kalinskaya should have won her Aussie Open quarterfinal against Zheng but she collapsed at the end and Zheng, as she often does, raised her game at the right time. I said at the time I was super impressed by Kalinskaya's smooth game after never having seen her play until her third-round win against Stephens, so I am not surprised she is backing up that run.

She hammered Paolini in the fourth round in Melbourne to get to that match with Zheng. I have not seen a point in Dubai, but I will watch the final.

[jazzyg]

Sakkari has a big first serve that wins her a lot of free points when she is playing well.

[meganfernandez]

Being in the right place at the right time I would say (similar to Podoroska's GS SF) plus not giving up easily.

Yeah, she got a walkover from Rybakina in the quarters. And evidently Paolini is playing well at this right place/time. I assume. Haven't seen her matches. Isn't she kind of Sakkari-like? Fast, feisty? Maybe I'm simplifying her game too much.

Her draw was: Haddad Maia, Fernandez, Sakkari, Rybakina, Cirstea. I don't now what happened to BHM in the first round, losing 4-6, 6-4, 6-0. That and the Rybakina W/O were a couple lucky breaks.

And Paolini's luck continues. Kalinskaya is the favorite in the final, but it's better than playing Iga.

[meganfernandez]

Paolini is Cibulkova size, but not as powerful. Sakkari is only a bit below average for a tennis player.

Sakkari is 5'8 - I looked it up. It that's accurate. That's surprises me. Paolini is 5'4 - undersized indeed.

For comparison, Iga and Coco are 5'9, Pegula is 5'7

[ti-amie]

ORDER OF PLAY - SATURDAY, 24 FEBRUARY 2024

CENTRE COURT
Starting at 5:00 PM

F
[3] Nicole Melichar-Martinez USA/Ellen Perez AUS v [4] Storm Hunter AUS/Katerina Siniakova CZE
Followed by
F
[Q] Anna Kalinskaya vs Jasmine Paolini ITA

[ti-amie]

[ashkor87]

I have always believed moderate size is best for tennis...too tall and big, you could be slow and ungainly .too small, you may be underpowered..but power comes mainly from timing, not brute musclepower so I don't think people like Leylah will struggle..we all know what happened to Chang when he decided to bulk up..