Jasmine Paolini finally got her revenge this time around. Back in mid-August, Iga Swiatek had crushed the 29-year-old Italian to win the Cincinnati Open, making it her sixth straight victory over Paolini and adding another chapter in her dominant run as a six-time Grand Slam champion. Fast forward two months, and Paolini needed just 65 minutes to turn the tables on Swiatek, cruising to a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory in the Wuhan Open quarterfinals.

On Friday, both players entered their WTA 1000 quarterfinal clash riding waves of confidence, though history was all on Swiatek’s side. That’s what made this one so special as the Italian didn’t just beat Swiatek, she dominated a player who she’d never come close to beating before. Ultimately, veteran journalist Jose Morgado summed it up best on X, highlighting just how remarkable Paolini’s long-awaited breakthrough really was.

“Wow. Jasmine Paolini defeats Iga Swiatek for the first time and does it in 65 minutes. Huge match for both world #1 and WTA Finals Race. 1. Sabalenka 10.000 2. Swiatek 8.368 8. Paolini 4.131 9. Rybakina 3.913,” he wrote. Right now, Aryna Sabalenka sits comfortably in first place with 10,000 points, followed by Swiatek with 8,368. Paolini, with 4,131 points, is holding on to the eighth and final qualifying spot, while Elena Rybakina trails just behind with 3,913, a mere 218 points away.

By defeating the World No. 1, Jasmine Paolini scored a crucial boost that could keep her inside the Top 8 for the WTA Finals. Every win counts now, especially with Rybakina breathing down her neck in this final stretch of the season. For Iga Swiatek, the loss won’t jeopardize her place in the Finals, but it could prove significant in the battle for the year-end World No. 1 ranking against Sabalenka. The gap is widening, and with only a few tournaments left, every result could tilt the balance, especially with Sabalenka looking untouchable in Wuhan.

As for Paolini, when asked about her upcoming semifinal clash with Coco Gauff, she couldn’t hide her excitement. “I am so happy. Every time I play against her, it’s so tough. Finally, I won a match! I am super happy about my level. She is an amazing player, and to me, it means a lot to play a match like that against a player like Iga,” she said.

Now, as Paolini gears up to face the 21-year-old in the semifinals, the winner will meet either Sabalenka or Jessica Pegula for a shot at the Wuhan Open title. And while Iga Swiatek may have fallen short this time, her overall run in Wuhan still puts her in rare company, joining legends Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova in an exclusive feat that few players have ever achieved. How, you ask?

Iga Swiatek earns her spot on the power list

Iga Swiatek reached another major milestone after defeating Belinda Bencic yesterday, in Wuhan. The Polish star came from behind to win 7–6(2), 6–4 in the third round, fighting through an early deficit in the first set before locking in and dominating the tiebreak. In the second, Swiatek broke Bencic’s serve and kept her composure to seal the victory.

The win marked her 125th career WTA 1000-level triumph and sent her into the quarterfinals, where she lost eventually. But what’s even more impressive is the fact that she’s now the third player to reach 25 WTA 1000 quarterfinals, doing so in the fewest main-draw appearances.

Interestingly, Iga Swiatek reached that milestone in just 41 tournaments, putting her in elite company. Serena Williams tops the list, having done it in only 32 events, followed by Maria Sharapova in 39. However, for Iga Swiatek, among those 41 tournaments, it’s her 2025 Cincinnati Open run that stands out the most, as that victory not only cemented her dominance at the WTA 1000 level but also set the tone for yet another standout season.

But before that came Wimbledon 2025, where the World No. 2 delivered a performance for the history books. In a historic final, she crushed Amanda Anisimova 6–0, 6–0 in just 57 minutes – the first double bagel in a Wimbledon women’s final in the Open Era and the first since 1911. Although Anisimova had revenge mere weeks later at the U.S. Open quarterfinals (6–4, 6–3), Iga Swiatek’s deep run there only added to her growing legacy and reinforced why she continues to be one of the most consistent forces in women’s tennis. That said, can Iga Swiatek bounce back and reclaim her dominance in the final stretch of the season? What do you think?