Jasmine Paolini beat Donna Vekic 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(8) to reach her first Wimbledon final, coming through a 10-point match tiebreak that decided one of the most compelling and tense matches of the Championships so far.
Vekic breezed through the first set like it was a first-round match, not her first Grand Slam semifinal in 43 attempts. She won 91 per cent of points behind her first serve without facing a single break point, and broke Paolini twice.
Vekic arguably played even better tennis in the second set, winning more points on Paolini’s first serve, but she failed to continue her attack on the Italian’s second serve, her win percentage dropping from 71 per cent to 45 percent.
Paolini took the second of two break points, having saved three on her own serve, and took the set 6-4. The third set was captivating, compelling, and frequently excruciating, as both players reckoned with the pressure of the occasion in ways they had not in the first two. Read more below.
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Jasmine Paolini beats Donna Vekic to reach Wimbledon final
