In a thrilling match that stretched over two hours and 51 minutes, Italy’s Jasmine Paolini etched her name in Wimbledon history by becoming the first Italian woman to reach the final. After a tough opening set where she was overpowered by Croatian Donna Vekic, Paolini displayed incredible resilience and grit to stage a remarkable comeback, winning the second and third sets to claim a 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10/8) victory. This victory marks Paolini’s second Grand Slam final appearance in as many months, having lost the French Open final to world number one Iga Swiatek last month.
The 28-year-old Paolini, who entered the tournament without a single main draw victory at Wimbledon, showcased her tenacity by winning six matches and dropping only two sets. Her journey to the final has been particularly impressive considering her previous best Grand Slam performance was reaching the last 16 at the Australian Open in January. Paolini’s victory was made sweeter by the fact that she faced emotional heartbreak from Vekic, who couldn’t hold back tears at the end of the match. The Croatian, who had served for the match in the third set, struggled with unforced errors and succumbed to Paolini’s unwavering determination.
The match saw dramatic twists and turns, with Vekic taking the first set comfortably. Paolini, however, fought back strongly in the second set, leveling the match at 1-1 after Vekic squandered two break points in the fifth game. The third set was a nerve-wracking affair, with both players exchanging breaks early on. Vekic, visibly tense, let slip a 3-1 lead in the tie-break, ultimately succumbing to Paolini’s relentless pressure.
In the other semi-final, world number four Elena Rybakina, the reigning Wimbledon champion, will be looking to make a second consecutive final appearance. She will face Barbora Krejcikova, who boasts a 2-0 head-to-head record against the Russian-born Kazakh. With the stage set for an exciting final, all eyes will be on Paolini, who has captured the hearts of tennis fans with her remarkable run to the final.
