NEW DELHI: The Wimbledon
women's semi-final
match between the seventh seed
Jasmine Paolini
and
Donna Vekic
was a gruelling encounter that lasted for 2 hours and 51 minutes, making it the longest women's semi-final in the history of the All England Club.
The match showcased the resilience, determination, and endurance of both players as they battled for a spot in the final against either
Barbora Krejcikova
or the defending champion,
Elena Rybakina
.
In her on-court interview, Paolini acknowledged the intensity of the match and expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to compete at such a prestigious event.
"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. 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," Paolini said after the win, as quoted by Reuters.
Vekic, playing in her first major semi-final, started strongly by claiming the opening set 6-2. Her combination of groundstrokes and well-timed dropshots proved too much for Paolini, who was a surprise finalist at the recent French Open.
However, Paolini, buoyed by the vocal support of the Italian contingent in the crowd, became more aggressive in the second set, approaching the net more frequently and putting Vekic on the defensive. Her perseverance paid off as she broke Vekic's serve to level the match at one set apiece.
The decider was a rollercoaster ride, with both players exchanging breaks and committing numerous unforced errors, particularly Vekic, who appeared fatigued and emotional as the match progressed. The Croatian was visibly distraught after saving Paolini's first match point and broke down in tears during a changeover following a successful challenge by Paolini that overturned a line call.
Despite the emotional turmoil, Vekic rallied to save another match point and force a tiebreak. However, Paolini, who appeared as energized as she did at the start of the match, prevailed in the tiebreak to secure her second successive
Grand Slam final
appearance.
The Italian's victory was a testament to her mental fortitude and physical endurance, as both players covered more than 3.5 kilometers during the epic encounter.
English (US) ·