The Wuhan Open quarterfinalist Jasmine Paolini and Iga Swiatek first met in Prague back in 2018. Since then, the Italian has only won one set in six meetings between the two. However, this year, the world No. 8 flipped the script, ending Swiatek’s unbeaten record.

On Friday, Paolini announced her intent early. At the Optics Valley International Tennis Centre, she broke Swiatek at love with a thundering return winner. It was 4-0 before Swiatek managed to hold serve, but the Italian broke her for the third time to put away the set after her opponent’s hurried forehand into the net. The second set was much the same. Every time Swiatek faced a break point, six of them, Paolini pounced and converted them all. It wasn’t just a win. It was a statement.

Paolini blitzed through Swiatek 6-1, 6-2 in just 65 minutes to clinch her seat in the semifinals against third-ranked Coco Gauff. She went full attack mode, soaking up Iga Swiatek’s pace and firing back with precision. The stats said it all: only three unforced errors and 15 winners.

“Finally, I won a match,” Paolini said in her on-court interview. “I’m super happy about my level. Just feels amazing.” 

Now, Iga Swiatek leaves Wuhan after starting her Asian swing on a high note with the Korea Open title. She previously lost to Emma Navarro in Beijing during the Round of 16 of the China Open.

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However, Swiatek’s Wuhan run came with a bonus. On October 9, 2025, she notched a major milestone after taking down Belinda Bencic in the third round. The Polish star came from behind to win 7-6(2), 6-4. She shook off a slow start in the first set, snatched the tiebreak, then broke Bencic in the second and never looked back. The win was her 125th at the WTA 1000 level and sent her into the quarterfinals against Jasmine Paolini. Even better, it made her the third player to hit 25 WTA 1000 quarterfinals in the fewest main-draw appearances.

She pulled it off in just 41 tournaments. Currently, Serena Williams holds the record at 32, and Maria Sharapova is next at 39. Those 41 events include her first Cincinnati Open title over Paolini 7-5, 6-4, and an unforgettable Wimbledon 2025, where she demolished Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in 57 minutes, the first double bagel in a Wimbledon women’s final in the Open Era, and the first since 1911. Anisimova got revenge in the US Open quarterfinals, 6-4, 6-3, but Iga Swiatek’s run there still padded her record.

And the history keeps stacking. With her wins this year in Korea and Cincinnati, along with the Bencic victory, Swiatek became the ninth player to reach the quarterfinals or better at all 10 WTA 1000 tournaments. She now shares that honor with legends like Simona Halep, Angelique Kerber, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Petra Kvitova, Agnieszka Radwanska, and Caroline Wozniacki. Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka are also in the list. Sure, she didn’t make it further in Wuhan, but she’s keeping her head high ahead of the WTA Finals.

Iga Swiatek speaks about her focus this season

In the shock upset at the hands of Emma Navarro in Beijing, the Brit pulled off quite the upset, capitalizing on Swiatek’s 70 unforced errors. But despite a tense three-set battle, the Pole turned her focus straight to the Wuhan Open. During a chat with Tennis Actu TV, Iga Swiatek was reminded of a curious stat — she has never lost a completed WTA 1000 match after winning the first set. Her reaction was pure Iga.

“I don’t know. There are a lot of things like that that I hear, and it really strikes me, because I am not aware of this stuff. I don’t really follow that,” she said. “These are things that the media or fans are catching and making a big deal out of it. But we are just focused on playing, and I am happy that I am one of these players who can have these kind of stats. I am really trying to be consistent and be there and play my best tennis. I think after I finish, I am going to have a look at these stats and think I did a good job.”

And she did just that in Wuhan. After a first-round bye, the Polish star looked steady and sharp, cruising past Marie Bouzkova and 13th seed Belinda Bencic in straight sets. Even though her campaign came to a halt sooner than expected, her composure and focus stayed intact. The big question now: Will she carry that same mindset into the WTA Finals? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!