Jasmine Paolini has become the first Italian woman in the Open Era to reach a Wimbledon final after ousting Donna Vekic in a roller-coaster encounter on Thursday.
The 28-year-old was at one point two points away from defeat before clawing her way back to triumph 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(10-8), after more than two-and-a-half hours of pulsating play. Paolini increases her winning head-to-head record against Vekic to 3-1. She is only the fifth woman in the last 25 years to reach the title match at both the French Open and Wimbledon within the same year. Following in the footsteps of Steffi Graf, Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Justine Henin.
“It was tough today and she [Vekic] played unbelievable. I think she was hitting winners everywhere – I was struggling at the beginning,” said Paolini.
“I was serving really bad so I am so happy! This match I will remember forever.”
Vekic, who was playing in her first Grand Slam semi-final at the age of 28, applied pressure onto the Paolini serve from the onset. She took the Italian to deuce five times in the opening game before she held after eight minutes. The Croat continued to use her aggressive hitting and got her first breakthrough in the fifth game after back-to-back Paolini shots into the net enabled her to break for a 3-2 lead. She then extended her stronghold to a double break with the help of a drop shot that triggered another error from across the net. Continuing to gain momentum, she sealed the opener with a love service game.
The Center Court crowd did their best to try and reignite Paolini’s chances in the match as they let out a huge roar when she held at the start of the second frame. Suddenly the Italian had become the fan favourite and was fighting for every point.
It wasn’t until 88 minutes into the match that the seventh seed finally got what she wanted and it occurred at the perfect time. Leading 5-4 in the second frame, she hit a deep return against the Vekic serve to earn a duo of set points. She triumphed on her first with a forehand winner that sparked an almighty roar from the British crowd.
The drama continued into a gut-busting 85-minute decider which featured four breaks of serves and 106 points being played. Paolini found herself down 1-3 before clawing back to level. Then she failed to take advantage of a break advantage of her own before failing to convert two match points in two separate games. In a match of fine margins, she prevailed on her third chance in the tiebreak when a Vekic forehand drifted wide.
“I was trying to think about what to do on the court point by point because I was really difficult,” she said afterwards.
“There is no place better than here to fight for every ball and every point.
“I really enjoy playing in front of you guys (the crowd). For a tennis player, this is the best place to play a match like this.”
At two hours and 51 minutes, Paolini’s latest match was the longest women’s semi-final to ever take place at The All England Club. She continues her stellar season where she has already won her maiden WTA 1000 title in Dubai and then reached her first Grand Slam final at the French Open. Her rise has even been praised by tennis great Billie Jean King.
“It is not easy for the family, it was a roller-coaster. I am so grateful that they are here, they were supporting me forever and I am grateful to have them here watching – Grazie!” She commented on her latest milestone.
Awaiting Paolini in the final will be either 2022 champion Elena Rybakina or Barbora Krejcikova.
