Just six tournaments together, Kempen and Panova storm into second final of 2026
CINCINNATI -- Magali Kempen and Alexandra Panova have only played doubles together since late June.
The results, however, have only gotten increasingly better. From the first tournament at Bad Homburg where they lost in the first round to now competing in the Cincinnati Open final tomorrow, the two doubles specialists have improved each time they step on the court in their total of six tournaments partnering.
With an upset of 6-3, 7-5 win No. 5 seeds Jelena Ostapenko and Hsieh Su-wei, Kempen and Panova will play in their second final of 2026 on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz. After Bad Homburg, the two reached the second round at Wimbledon, semifinals at Iasi and the final in Hamburg. Despite an early an exit in Toronto, the pair picked up where they left off in Hamburg and will face either American duo Caty McNally and Iva Jovic or Czech pair Marie Bouzkova and Linda Noskova.
"It's amazing, I'm so happy," Kempen said to press Friday. "I think we are playing great so we deserve it as well. I'm looking forward to the final, but I'm so happy to be able to play final on such a court. It's something I dreamed about it all my life, so it's amazing."
Earlier in the 2026 season, the two rotated between various doubles partners and were not constantly aligned on the same schedule.
Saturday, Kempen will play for her third WTA doubles title and second of 2026, while the more experienced Panova will look for her 12 WTA doubles title. The key to such quick success has been their collaborate communication, complementing game styles and trust in their teams.
"We did good work before the tournament to find the chemistry and once we found it, it's just the flow," Panova said. "We complement each other, the game styles and just being there for each other. Covering each other's back when it's needed, executing our game plan, listening to our coach.
"You have to talk all the time. You cannot let it go. It's actually hard work between every point and before every point."
Not only did they beat Hsieh and Ostapenko, past Grand Slam finalists, they also upset No. 2 seeded pair Aleksandra Krunic and Anna Danilina, a pair that reached the finals at the Australian Open and Roland Garros this season. Panova is certainly aware of the caliber of players that are beating.
"Absolutely," Panova said. "We are so proud of ourselves to get a good win against such teams. It takes a lot to beat them so great job from us to do that."
While a possible hoist of the trophy tomorrow would be a milestone for the pair, the victory would represent the amount of work leading up to this moment, not just in the two months they've worked together, but also over the course of the entire season where they were partnering other players.
"It means everything, but it's not about the title," Panova said. "It's about enjoying it everyday. We don't even want to think about tomorrow. Let us enjoy today [laughing]. Titles are just prizes for the work you have achieved, you got to enjoy the process and how you're getting there.
"It took us the whole year, seven or eight months, to get here. Prize money for the other weeks was not even covering the costs so it's just a reward for the job you've been doing all the way up to coming here."
Tomorrow's doubles final will be first on at 11 a.m. on Stadium Court, with the winning pair enjoying $$379,080.
