Jasmine Paolini is through to a maiden Wimbledon final where she will face Barbora Krejcikova after the pair secured thrilling come-from-behind victories in the last four.
Paolini had never won a match at the All England Club before this summer, but is one win away from lifting the Venus Rosewater Dish after a rollercoaster 2-6 6-4 7-6 (10-8) success over a tearful Donna Vekic.
Seventh seed Paolini lost the opener thanks to Vekic’s explosive hitting before she levelled up, but found herself 3-1 down in the third.
Even when the French Open runner-up broke back, Vekic immediately responded with a break of her own, but Paolini would not be denied and, as her opponent battled to hold back tears, the Italian held her nerve to win a thrilling tie-break to book her place in Saturday’s final.
The match, which lasted close to three hours, set a new record for the longest-ever Wimbledon women’s semi-final.
Paolini said afterwards: “She played unbelievable. She was hitting winners everywhere, I was a little bit struggling at the beginning but I was just repeating to myself to fight every ball and to improve a little bit.
“I am so happy with this win. This match, I will remember forever.
“There is no place better than here to fight and fight. I really enjoy playing in front of you guys. For a tennis player, it is the best match to play a place like this.
“I think it is not easy for the family to watch a match like this, it was a rollercoaster of emotions. I am so grateful they were here. They are supporting me forever. I am so thankful to have them here watching. Grazie!
“It is a dream. I was watching finals when I was a kid on this Wimbledon. I am just enjoying it and trying to live in the present, but the last months have been crazy for me.
“Now I am going to the ice bath to rest my legs because I am a little bit tired, but I am so happy to be in the final.”
Krejcikova stuns former champion Rybakina
In the second match on Centre Court, Czech 31st seed Krejcikova stunned 2022 champion and tournament favourite Elena Rybakina to storm through to a maiden Wimbledon final with a 3-6 6-3 6-4 win.
Fourth seed Rybakina smashed 19 winners on her way to claiming a one-sided opener and looked to have also started the second set the stronger – Krejcikova facing at least one break point in her opening seven service games of the match.
But the 2021 French Open winner, who had triumphed in her two previous meetings with Rybakina, gradually grew into the contest and claimed the second set 6-3 to force a decider.
She waited patiently to strike with a break in the seventh game of the third set and it ultimately proved enough to send her through to Saturday’s final.
Krejcikova will now hope to follow in the footsteps of her fellow Czech Marketa Vondrousova, winner of the women’s singles here 12 months ago, while Rybakina’s defeat guarantees an eighth different champion in eight years.
Krejcikova also paid tribute to Jana Novotna, who won Wimbledon in 1998 and coached the Czech player before her death in 2017, in her on-court interview after the win.
“It’s unbelievable. It’s very tough to explain what I’m feeling right now. A lot of joy, a lot of emotions, also a lot of relief and I am just super proud. So proud of my game and my fighting spirit,” Krejcikova said.
“A couple of years ago I was working with Jana. I mean I was so far when we had this talk and now I am here. Wow, I am in a final.
“Definitely I remember thinking about Jana a lot, I have so many beautiful memories and when I step on the court here, I am fighting for every ball and I am sure that is what she would want me to do.”
An emotional Krejcikova wiped away tears before she added: “I just miss her very much, I miss her so much.”
How Paolini reached the Wimbledon final
The pressure was on the Paolini serve from the first game, an eight-minute, five-deuce affair in which she just about held.
But Vekic’s powerful, aggressive returning had Paolini under the cosh and took her a set ahead.
Suddenly the Paolini smile which has lit up a gloomy south-west London this fortnight had disappeared.
When a double fault brought Vekic a break point early in the second, Paolini looked in serious trouble of being on the end of a hiding similar to the one she dished out to Emma Navarro in the quarter-final.
But a stunning, scampering drop shot saved a hold and a spectacular volley in the next had the crowd on its feet.
Vekic was suddenly feeling the heat and, as she served to stay in the set, a double fault gave Paolini the initiative and a forehand winner levelled the match.
The momentum swung again at the start of the decider with Vekic, running her opponent all over the court, grabbing the break.
But Paolini’s defence was driving her opponent to distraction and, with almost every point becoming a mini-drama in itself, the woman from Tuscany – who had previously suffered three first-round exits at Wimbledon – drew level.
With Vekic on serve – and by now in tears – Paolini had a match point but sent her return wide before another marathon game, at 5-5, was decided when Vekic missed by a hair’s breadth.
A backhand which flew long gave Paolini a second match point but Vekic ended another wonderful rally with a winner down the line.
In the match tie-break the pair were matching each other blow for exhausting blow, until Paolini’s third match point was swept wide by the heartbroken Vekic.
How Krejcikova reached the Wimbledon final
After the emotional drama of the first semi-final, it was no surprise that Rybakina and Krejcikova walked out to a mostly empty Centre Court as fans took a breather.
The flat atmosphere was reflected on the court, with the contest distinctly lacking in any rhythm early on.
Much of that was due to the ice-cold demeanour and clinical striking from Rybakina, whose power was simply too much for Krejcikova to cope with in the opening set.
The fourth seed quickly opened up a 4-0 lead, with Krejcikova not holding serve until the eighth game of the match.
Rybakina had break points in each of Krejcikova’s opening three service games in the second set but the Kazakh could not find a way through.
And suddenly the errors were significantly outweighing the winners for Rybakina, while Krejcikova had adjusted to the power and was managing to use her varied game to unsettle her opponent.
The Czech clenched her fist and roared when she broke Rybakina to lead 4-2 before surviving a wobble serving for the set, taking her set point on the sixth chance after being up 40-0 and then twice double faulting.
It was the first time since a second-round meeting with German Laura Siegemund that Rybakina had been pushed to a deciding set, with the former champion dropping just 13 games combined in her other four matches.
She regrouped at the beginning of the third but Krejcikova’s confidence was high now and she struck in the seventh game, a tame attempt at a drop shot from Rybakina landing in the net on break point.
This time there were no nerves serving it out, the 28-year-old thrusting her hands into the air when Rybakina’s final return flew long.
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