Italy’s Jasmine Paolini is eyeing her first Grand Slam title after an extraordinary journey to the Wimbledon final, where she will face Czech player Barbora Krejcikova. Paolini emerged victorious in the longest women’s singles semi-final in Wimbledon history, defeating Donna Vekic 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10/8) in a thrilling match that lasted two hours and 51 minutes on Centre Court.
This remarkable achievement makes Paolini the first Italian woman to reach the final of the prestigious grass-court Grand Slam. Her opponent, 31st seed Krejcikova, secured her place in the final by upsetting 2022 champion Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the other semi-final.
Paolini’s journey to the final is nothing short of miraculous. Until 15 days ago, she had never won a Tour-level match on grass and had been eliminated in the first round on her previous three visits to Wimbledon. Additionally, she had never advanced beyond the second round of a Grand Slam until this year. However, 2024 has been a breakthrough year for Paolini, who also reached her first Grand Slam final at the French Open before losing to world number one Iga Swiatek.
Reflecting on her unexpected rise, Paolini admitted, “It’s crazy, yes. I don’t have words. Just, yeah, it’s crazy,” she said. “Two Grand Slam finals in a row is something I never imagined.”
Despite her rapid ascent, Paolini acknowledges the pressure she faces as she pursues her first Grand Slam title. She admitted that nerves could play a role on Centre Court this weekend, but she draws confidence from her resilient comeback against Vekic, who tearfully watched the semi-final slip away after leading 3-1 in the final set.
Paolini is the first woman since Serena Williams in 2016 to reach consecutive Roland Garros and Wimbledon finals. This final marks only the second meeting between Paolini and Krejcikova, their first encounter being in the first round of qualifying for the Australian Open in 2018, where Krejcikova won in straight sets.
Krejcikova, who is playing in her second Grand Slam final after winning the French Open in 2021, has had a challenging year due to a back injury and illness, winning only three singles matches in the first five months of 2024. However, she has rediscovered her form at Wimbledon, stunning 11th seed Danielle Collins in the fourth round, former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the quarter-finals, and Rybakina in the semi-finals.
Inspired by the late Jana Novotna, a 1998 Wimbledon champion who once coached her, Krejcikova is poised to become the sixth Czech woman to win Wimbledon. “She told me many stories about her journeys here and her efforts to win Wimbledon. Now, I find myself in the final,” Krejcikova said. “I’ve faced many challenges, and I never imagined reaching a Wimbledon final. It’s a dream come true”.
