CINCINNATI – Iga Swiatek’s victory over Jasmine Paolini in the semifinals of the 2025 Western & Southern Open was no ordinary victory. The on-court result, a hard-fought 6-4, 7-6, was immediately overshadowed by cutting comments, uncontained emotions, and a media coverage that transcended the confines of sport.
The match began with an electric atmosphere. Paolini, cheered on by hundreds of Italian fans who had flocked from all over the United States, played with courage and intensity, coming close to taking Swiatek to a third set. The Polish world number one, however, used all her experience in the crucial moments, rallying in the second set tie-break and closing out the match amid applause—and boos—from some of the crowd.
But what happened at the moment of the handshake transformed a simple sporting victory into an international case.
With a tense face, Swiatek blurted out live, in front of microphones and cameras:
— “I despise her because she’s Italian! She almost won thanks to the crowd’s applause and the umpire’s deliberate oversight of a service error.”
The words were as heavy as boulders, leaving Paolini stunned, as she remained motionless on the baseline. Some in the crowd reacted with a roar of surprise, others with boos aimed at the Pole.
Within minutes, Swiatek’s comments had spread around the world. On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag#RespectPaolinibegan trending globally. Italian and international fans accused the Polish champion of arrogance and disrespect.
“You can’t win and then insult an opponent like that,” one user wrote.
Another replied: “I understand the tension, but saying ‘I despise her’ is an unforgivable lapse in style.”
Polish fans, on the other hand, tried to defend their darling:“She was under pressure, the crowd was against her, she just lost control for a moment.”
Some journalists speculated that Swiatek had long been harboring a certain annoyance toward Paolini, whom he considered his “bête noire” after his shocking defeat at Roland Garros the previous year. Others cited nerves built up during the American tour, between interviews, sponsors, and the expectations of being number one.
A local reporter wrote:“We didn’t see the usual calm and focused Iga. We saw an exasperated soul, who for a moment lost the mask of the icy champion.”
As the media frenzy mounted, Jasmine Paolini once again demonstrated her class and composure. At a press conference, in front of dozens of journalists demanding a harsh response, the Italian smiled and uttered five simple yet powerful words:
— “I respect those who beat me.”
An emotional silence preceded applause that quickly turned into a standing ovation. In the stands, the remaining fans chanted his name, while social media filled with messages expressing admiration for his maturity.
Some spectators swore that even Swiatek, returning to the locker room, looked away, struck by those words. Others claim that a heated argument could be heard in the corridors between the Polish player and her staff, a sign of nerves that the victory hadn’t quelled.
Meanwhile, an Italian sports newspaper headlined:“Paolini, a lady of elegance. Swiatek, a night to forget.”
Former champions like Chris Evert commented on the incident:“I understand the pressure, but certain words should never be spoken. Jasmine showed how to respond: with grace and dignity.”
Mats Wilander, on the other hand, emphasized the human aspect:“Iga is young and carries a huge weight on her shoulders. She collapsed for a moment. It can happen, but she must learn from this episode.”
Beyond Swiatek’s victory and advancement to the final, what will remain of Cincinnati is the echo of a brutal sentence and a disarming response. Two contrasting images: on the one hand, the champion’s cry of frustration; on the other, the composed calm of a challenger who won the hearts of the crowd.
For Paolini, this episode represents perhaps the definitive confirmation not only as an athlete, but as a figure capable of embodying universal sporting values. For Swiatek, however, it will be a difficult shadow to shake off, at least in the short term.
But if tennis is also theater, drama, and redemption, Cincinnati 2025 will go down in history as the day when five words—“I respect those who beat me”—had more power than any winning shot.
