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It was a record-breaking semi-final Wimbledon will not forget.
Two hours and 51 minutes of brilliant sporting drama as Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini defeated unseeded Donna Vekic 2-6 6-4 7-6 (10-8) in the longest women’s semi-final in the tournament’s history.
Paolini had never won a match here before July. She has now won six in a row, but none more nerve-wracking than this.
After losing a bruising opening set, Paolini was in trouble. At 4-3 and a break down in the final set, Vekic was two games from glory, despite being hampered by an injury to her right arm.
Paolini fought back and had two match points as the rollercoaster contest entered its fittingly dramatic conclusion.
In a thrilling 10-point tie-break, Paolini trailed 3-1, 6-5 and 8-7 but, to the delight of a thrilled Centre Court, the hugely popular Italian, with a never-say-die attitude, sealed a remarkable win.
“It’s incredible when you’re able to witness two athletes giving their absolute all, leaving everything on the court,” said 2021 champion Ash Barty on BBC TV.
“The uncertainty, the unpredictability of sport – it can be crushing but it can be so euphoric as well, and that’s what we’ve seen.
“It has to be exhausting going through that emotional rollercoaster.
“On one side of the net it’s the crushing defeat, it’s demoralising and then for Jasmine Paolini it’s the euphoria of being in a Wimbledon final. Sport is cruel, isn’t it?”
Cruel. Enthralling. Unmissable. Remarkable.
‘They both showed their emotions more than most players’
The fans were captivated, and rightly so. Paolini had destroyed Emma Navarro in 58 minutes, with the American only picking up three games in their quarter-final.
But Thursday’s thriller was women’s tennis at its finest.
“The way these women fought – they both showed their emotions more than most players,” said nine-time Wimbledon singles champion Martina Navratilova.
“That’s what gets this crowd excited to see the players love the sport so much, want it so badly and to be so happy and so depressed, and come back again.”
Even the most ardent of Paolini supporters would have felt sympathy for Vekic, aiming to become the first player from Croatia to reach the women’s singles final.
As the match slipped from her grasp, and with the pain from her arm injury driving her to tears, Vekic continued to give everything.
It will be a difficult defeat to take but, when the pain, physically and mentally, eases her best-ever Slam run could be one that changes the course of her career.
Where next for Vekic after career-best run following retirement U-turn?
Vekic has said she was close to quitting the sport before Wimbledon.
Yet she has beaten 28th seed Dayana Yastremska, former world number two Paula Badosa and Lulu Sun, who ended Emma Raducanu’s tournament.
Aged 28, Vekic will be 21st in the world rankings, up from 37th, and only two short of her best placing.
“I hope she doesn’t quit tennis because this should give her an indication that she can keep going,” said six-time champion Billie Jean King, who watched the match from the Royal Box.
“Everyone up there was so tense – that’s the most tennis I’ve played since I retired because I cannot tell you how tense it was.
“I don’t think I’ve witnessed a tighter match over such a long period of time. Whoever won, really deserved it. They both deserved the win. My hat goes to both of them but gosh, I feel so sorry for Vekic.”
‘No ball Paolini doesn’t run or fight for’
While Vekic’s future in the sport is uncertain, Paolini’s career trajectory is rising sharply.
Only in May did she get past the last 16 of a Slam for the first time, reaching the French Open final before a chastening 6-2 6-1 hammering by Iga Swiatek.
But what a way to respond to that disappointment, as Paolini became the first player since Serena Williams in 2016 to reach back-to-back Roland Garros and Wimbledon finals.
“Paolini is 5ft 4in, she knows she is going to have to run,” added King. “She would have been right for our era, but she makes up for it in speed and in her love of playing.”
Paolini, the seventh seed, will face 31st seed Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic as both aim for their first Wimbledon title, guaranteeing an eighth different female winner since 2016.
Barty felt Paolini’s positive attitude would make her a tough opponent for any player.
“Her energy lifted so much in that second set,” added Barty. “The crowd got behind her, her feet moved faster, she was positioned better, she had more speed on the ball and then all of a sudden there is this belief she can win.
“There’s no ball she doesn’t run or fight for. She always tries to make her opponent play that extra ball.”
