Modern tennis is all about the “big.” Big three. Big four; new big four. Big serve. Big game. Bigger-than-ever players hitting bigger-than-ever balls. Modern tennis, Jasmine Paolini would like a word with you. At this most improbable moment, Paolini — all 5ft 3in (160cm) of her — is the biggest thing in women’s tennis.
For the second time in five weeks, Paolini, the diminutive Italian, has forced everyone in the sport to forget everything they thought they knew about the modern version of tennis. She has reminded them of one of the things, maybe even the thing, that makes tennis special. Its champions can come in all shapes and sizes.
“Amazing,” Paolini said in the glow of Thursday evening after beating Croatia’s Donna Vekic 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 to reach the Wimbledon final, five weeks after doing the same thing at Roland Garros in Paris.
Now, Paolini, a 28-year-old from Tuscany with one of the great heads of curly hair, which she ties into its greatest when she plays, is up to No 7 in the world and No 3 in the race to the end-of-year WTA Finals in Riyadh. She’ll be top five in the rankings after Wimbledon ends.
Italians came for Jannik Sinner, the world No 1 and one of the favorites for the men’s title. Physically hampered, he lost in the quarterfinals to Daniil Medvedev. The Italians have stayed for Paolini and Musetti. Read more below.
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Jasmine Paolini: How she became a French Open and Wimbledon finalist
