Rain Disrupts Dubai Tennis as Paolini and Swiatek Progress
Heavy rain caused long delays at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, leaving players stuck in the locker room and spectators rushing for cover. The poor weather also prompted UAE authorities to urge motorists to drive with caution.
Defending champion Jasmine Paolini of Italy was on the verge of a straight-set victory against German qualifier Eva Lys when the rain returned, forcing another interruption. Despite the tireless efforts of the ground staff, it took nearly five hours before play resumed.
Once back on court, Paolini wasted no time, wrapping up the match with a 6-2, 7-5 win. She remains in contention to become only the fourth player to successfully defend the Dubai title, a feat previously achieved by Justine Henin (2003, 2004), Venus Williams (2009, 2010), and Elina Svitolina (2017, 2018).
Reflecting on the tough conditions, the 29-year-old admitted it had been a challenging day.
“It was a long day. I’m happy that I got the win,” Paolini said.
“It kept raining, stopping, then starting again. It was tough.”
Meanwhile, world number two Iga Swiatek also had to endure a long wait before taking to the court for her match against Victoria Azarenka. Originally scheduled for the afternoon, the five-time Grand Slam champion only started playing after 7:30 pm.
Once in action, Swiatek dominated, using her powerful forehands to overpower her experienced Belarusian opponent.
Despite the delays, both Paolini and Swiatek now move forward in the tournament, hoping to build on their strong performances.
