Jasmine Paolini Makes History: First Italian Woman in Wimbledon Final

 Jasmine Paolini Edges Donna Vekic in Marathon Match to Reach First Wimbledon Final

On July 11, Jasmine Paolini, the seventh seed, made history by becoming the first Italian woman to reach the Wimbledon final. She achieved this feat by defeating Croatian Donna Vekic 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(8) in the longest women's semi-final at the All England Club. The match, lasting two hours and 51 minutes, captivated fans with its roller-coaster dynamics on Centre Court.

Both players gave their all in a match that saw Paolini, a surprise finalist at the French Open last month, overcome a challenging start. Vekic, who played the first major semi-final of her career, took the opening set comfortably by breaking Paolini in the fifth and seventh games, using a mix of groundstrokes and dropshots under the sunny sky.

However, the Italian rallied in the second set, supported by a loud contingent of Italian fans. She adopted a more aggressive approach, frequently approaching the net and putting Vekic on the defensive. Paolini's persistence paid off as she secured a break to clinch the set.

The final set was a battle of endurance, with both players exchanging numerous breaks and accumulating unforced errors. Vekic, showing signs of fatigue, fought hard but was unable to overcome Paolini's determination. A crucial challenge overturning a line call helped Paolini hold serve in a nearly 10-minute game, reducing Vekic to tears during the changeover.

Despite Vekic's efforts to save multiple match points and force a tiebreak, her 57 unforced errors proved costly. Paolini remained energetic throughout and ultimately prevailed, reaching her second consecutive Grand Slam final. The match saw both players covering more than 3.5 kilometers on court.

Reflecting on her achievement, Paolini expressed her amazement at reaching the Wimbledon final. "These last months have been crazy for me. I am trying to focus on what I have to do on court and I love playing tennis. It is amazing to be here and it is a dream," said Paolini, who also reached the semi-finals in Eastbourne last month.

She also acknowledged the intensity of the match and her need for recovery. "I think it was an intense match and I tried to play my best and now it's time to recover. I think I need an ice bath as my legs are a little bit tired."

This semi-final match surpassed the previous record for the longest women's semi-final at Wimbledon, set by Serena Williams and Elena Dementieva in 2009, which lasted two hours and 50 minutes.

Paolini's journey to the Wimbledon final is a testament to her dedication and hard work, particularly her collaboration with a new fitness coach since last year. Her recent success follows her runs to the fourth round of the Australian Open in January and the final at the French Open.

When asked if she could have predicted her current success a year ago, Paolini responded with disbelief. "You are crazy, I would say, yes... I don't have words. Just, yeah, you are crazy," she laughed during a press conference.

While inspired by fellow Italians like Francesca Schiavone, Flavia Pennetta, and Sara Errani, Paolini is determined to carve out her own legacy. "Yeah, they are inspiring me so much. But I don't want to compare too much because I'm writing my own story, my own career," she said. "But I remember the Grand Slam finals that they made. I think it's really important for also the next generation having people that can do great things. They can show you that it's possible. That's really important."

As Paolini prepares for the Wimbledon final against Barbora Krejcikova, tennis fans around the world will be watching closely to see if she can continue her historic run.