Jasmine Paolini has made history as the first Italian to reach a Wimbledon women’s singles final, following a thrilling semi-final victory over Donna Vekic.
This marks her second consecutive Grand Slam final appearance, having lost in the French Open final in May.
In a match that will be remembered as one of the best of the tournament, Paolini defeated Vekic 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10-8) in a grueling two-hour and 51-minute battle, the longest women’s singles semi-final in Wimbledon history. The 27-year-old Italian showcased her resilience and determination, coming back from 8-7 down in the 10-point tie-break to clinch the win.
Seventh seed Paolini now prepares to face Czech 31st seed Barbora Krejcikova in Saturday’s final. Krejcikova secured her place in the final with a remarkable 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 comeback victory over Elena Rybakina, the 2022 champion. The final guarantees a new name will be etched into the Venus Rosewater Dish.
Paolini, known for her enthusiasm, bubbly personality, and incredible shot-making skills, expressed her joy after the match. “I was serving really bad so I am so happy. This match I will remember forever,” she said. “I was just trying to think about what to do on the court, point by point, because I was really in difficulty.”
Paolini capitalised on Vekic’s injury
The match was an emotional rollercoaster for Vekic, who struggled with an injury to her lower right arm and was seen in tears before the tie-break.
“I thought I was going to die in the third set,” Vekic said in the post-match news conference. “I had so much pain in my arm, in my leg. It was not easy out there, but I will recover. It’s tough right now. It’s really tough to be positive right now. It was so close.”
Paolini’s journey to the final has captured the hearts of many, as she had never won a match at Wimbledon before this year. Her remarkable run at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon makes her the first woman to reach back-to-back finals at these tournaments since Serena Williams in 2016.
With her historic win, Paolini continues to delight fans and inspire with her “dream” victory, bringing anticipation and excitement for the upcoming final against Krejcikova.
