LONDON/STARNBERG, July 11, 2024
Jasmine Paolini defeated Donna Vekic of Croatia in a thrilling semi-final on Thursday, becoming the first Italian to reach a Wimbledon women’s singles final.
In one of the tournament’s best matches, Paolini missed two match points and was 8-7 behind in the 10-point tie-break before recovering to secure an incredible victory. The match lasted two hours and 51 minutes, making it the longest women’s singles semi-final at Wimbledon, with Paolini prevailing 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10-8).
Paolini, who had never won a match at The Championships before this year, said afterwards: “I was serving really bad so I am so happy. This match I will remember forever.
“I was just trying to think about what to do on the court, point by point, because I was really in difficulty.”
Paolini, runner-up to Iga Swiatek at the French Open in May, has become the first woman to reach back-to-back Roland Garros and Wimbledon finals since Serena Williams in 2016.
“I think these last months have been crazy for me,” stated No. 7 seed Paolini. “I don’t know, I am just trying to focus on what I have to do on court and enjoying what I am doing.
“I love playing tennis. It is a dream. I was watching finals when I was a kid at Wimbledon. I am just enjoying it and trying to live in the present.”
Krejcikova outlasts Rybakina
Paolini will take on Barbora Krejcikova for the title. The No. 31 seed from the Czech Republic rallied from a set down to overcome No. 4 seed and 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and seven minutes.
BARBORA KREJCIKOVA IS A WIMBLEDON FINALIST 🇨🇿
The Czech comes from a set down to beat 2022 champion Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-3, 6-4#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/Yo57VVuC4T
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 11, 2024
Krejcikova is no stranger to a final at Wimbledon, having twice lifted the women’s doubles title, but she has just broken new ground in the singles.
“A couple of years I was working with Jana Novota, the 1998 Wimbledon winner,” said Krejcikova.
“She was telling me a lot of stories about her journey here and how she was trying to win Wimbledon. I was so far away when we had this talk. Now I am here and I am in a final!
“I remember thinking about her a lot. I have so many beautiful memories and when I step on the court I fight for every single ball as that is what she would want me to do.”
Krejcikova won the only previous meeting with Paolini in the qualifying of the 2018 Australian Open.
