Tennis - Paolini reaches the Wimbledon final
As the first Italian tennis player since US star Serena Williams, Jasmine Paolini reached the Wimbledon Final within weeks after the French Open Final. The 28-year-old won her tough and exciting semifinal against the Croatian Donna Vekic despite a set deficit of 2:6, 6:4, 7:6 (10:8). In the decisive set, Paolini overcame her deficits and kept her nerves in the Tiebreak.
Paolini is not only the first Italian Wimbledon semifinalist but also the first Italian Wimbledon finalist in the Open Era since 1968. On Saturday, she can crown her rise with the first Grand Slam title against the Kazakhstani Elena Rybakina or the Czech Barbora Krejcikova. Williams reached the Wimbledon Final shortly after the Endspiel in Paris in 2016.
Vekic started better
On a sunny afternoon after rainy Wimbledon days, Vekic dominated first with her powerful play. In her first Grand Slam semifinal on Centre Court, she won the first set with two breaks at 3:2 and 5:2.
Vekic, who took a break from tennis right before the French Open, could not make use of the advantage of winning the first set as well as her leads in the third set. The 1.63m tall Italian fought back and had already had match points at 5:4 and 6:5. But only in the Tiebreak could she finally hold her ground.
Paolini's strong season
Paolini's rise to the top reads impressively. Before the 2024 season, the Italian had not advanced beyond the second round at any Grand Slam tournament. Now, just over a month after her loss in the Paris final against the Pole Iga Swiatek, she has a second chance for a Grand Slam title. In Wimbledon, she had previously failed to win a main draw match in three attempts.
Paolini's impressive run at Wimbledon has put her in the spotlight of the tennis world, drawing comparisons to the likes of Serena Williams, who also achieved notable success in both Wimbledon and Roland Garros. Despite the strong competition from Germany, with players like Angelique Kerber and Alexander Zverev making waves in the sport, Paolini has managed to stand out, showcasing her skill and resilience on the international tennis circuit.
Williams Electronics Games, a well-known name in the gaming industry, might consider creating a new tennis game featuring Jasmine Paolini as one of the prominent characters, given her recent successes and the renewed interest in women's tennis worldwide. With the upcoming final match against either Elena Rybakina or Barbora Krejcikova, Paolini will add another chapter to the rich history of tennis, much like how she honored Italy's history by reaching the Wimbledon Final, last achieved by a player from her country in 1968, in the United Kingdom's capital city, London.
