This semi-final at Wimbledon will be remembered for breaking records.
A riveting battle that lasted two hours and 51 minutes saw Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini triumph over unseeded Donna Vekic with a score of 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10-8), marking the longest women’s semi-final in the tournament’s history.
Before July, Paolini had never won a match at this venue. She has now impressively secured six consecutive victories, but none carried the same tension as this one.
After a challenging first set, Paolini found herself in a precarious position. With Vekic leading 4-3 and a break in the deciding set, she was just two games away from victory, despite battling an injury to her right arm.
Displaying incredible tenacity, Paolini rallied back, finding herself with two match points as the thrilling contest approached its climax.
During a nail-biting 10-point tie-break, Paolini was down 3-1, 6-5, and 8-7 but, much to the joy of the electrified Centre Court, the beloved Italian clinched an astonishing win with her indomitable spirit.
“It’s amazing to see two athletes giving their all, leaving nothing behind on the court,” commented 2021 champion Ash Barty during a BBC TV broadcast.
“The unpredictability and uncertainty of sports can be both crushing and euphoric, and today exemplified that.”
“Experiencing such an emotional rollercoaster must be exhausting.”
“For one player, it’s a gut-wrenching defeat, while for Jasmine Paolini, it’s the ecstatic joy of reaching a Wimbledon final. Sport can be incredibly harsh, right?”
Harsh. Captivating. Essential. Extraordinary.
