Wimbledon results 2024: Jasmine Paolini and Donna Vekic in record-breaking semi-final

The Incredible Rollercoaster Of Emotions In The Semi-final

Photo credit, PA Media

Jasmine Paolini and Donna Vekic had a rollercoaster of emotions during their Wimbledon semi-final match on Thursday.

A reporter from BBC Sport covering the Wimbledon tennis tournament.

The semi-final match at Wimbledon broke all previous records and will be remembered for a long time.

A fantastic sporting event took place today, lasting almost three hours, as Italian player Jasmine Paolini, who was ranked seventh, beat the unseeded Donna Vekic in a thrilling match. This was the longest women's semi-final in the tournament's history, with Paolini coming out victorious after a hard-fought battle.

Paolini had never emerged victorious in a match at this location until July. Since then, she has claimed victory in six consecutive matches, with none being more tense than the latest one.

Following a tough first set loss, Paolini found herself in a difficult situation. Down 4-3 and trailing in the final set, Vekic was only two games away from victory, despite dealing with an injury to her right arm.

Paolini didn't give up and had two opportunities to win the match as the intense contest came to an exciting ending.

In an exciting 10-point tie-breaker, Paolini was losing at 3-1, 6-5, and 8-7 but, to the joy of the enthusiastic Center Court crowd, the very popular Italian player, with a determined attitude, secured an impressive victory.

"It's amazing to see two athletes putting in their all, giving everything they have on the court," stated Ash Barty, the 2021 champion, during an interview on BBC TV.

The unpredictability and unpredictability of sports can be devastating, but it can also be incredibly exhilarating, and that is what we have witnessed.

Going through those intense emotions must be tiring.

Facing a tough loss can be disheartening, but for Jasmine Paolini, it was quickly followed by the thrill of reaching a Wimbledon final. The world of sports can be unforgiving, don't you think?

Harsh. Captivating. Must-see. Outstanding.

Paolini emerges victorious in thrilling semi-final match against Vekic.

Both Players Expressed Emotions Openly

The audience was completely engrossed, and for good reason. Paolini had dominated Emma Navarro in a match that lasted 58 minutes, with the American player only managing to win three games in their quarter-final.

Thursday's exciting match showcased the pinnacle of women's tennis.

According to Martina Navratilova, the women demonstrated their emotions more openly than other players during the match. Navratilova, a nine-time Wimbledon singles champion, praised their fighting spirit.

That's what really gets the audience energized - seeing the players passion and dedication for the game, their highs and lows, and their relentless drive to keep coming back for more.

Even the most passionate fans of Paolini would have empathized with Vekic, who was striving to make history as the first Croatian player to reach the women's singles final.

As she started losing control of the game, Vekic refused to give up, despite the tears caused by the pain in her arm.

Losing will be hard to accept, but once the physical and mental pain diminishes, her impressive performance in the Grand Slam tournament could be a turning point in her career.

Vekic's Next Move After Career-Defining Run

Donna Vekic was very emotional after her challenging semi-final match against Jasmine Paolini.

Vekic has revealed that she almost gave up playing tennis before the Wimbledon tournament.

However, she has defeated the 28th seeded Dayana Yastremska, former second-ranked player Paula Badosa, and Lulu Sun, who eliminated Emma Raducanu from the tournament.

At 28 years old, Vekic has climbed to the 21st spot in the world rankings, showing a significant improvement from her previous ranking of 37th. She is now just two spots away from her highest ranking ever.

"I really hope she doesn't give up on tennis after this, as it should show her that she has the ability to persevere," stated six-time champion Billie Jean King, who observed the match from the Royal Box.

Everyone was on edge - I played more tennis in that moment than I have since I stopped playing professionally because I can't even begin to describe how nervous everyone was.

I have never seen a closer match that lasted for so long. The winner truly earned their victory, as did the other player. I commend both of them, but my heart goes out to Vekic.

Paolini Doesn't Run Or Fight For Any Ball

Photo courtesy of PA Media

Jasmine Paolini is set to climb to fifth place in the global rankings, regardless of the outcome of the final match.

Even though Vekic's future in tennis is unclear, Paolini's career is on a steep upward trend.

It was not until May when she finally made it to the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time. She advanced to the French Open final, but unfortunately suffered a crushing defeat of 6-2 6-1 by Iga Swiatek.

However, Paolini showcased an impressive comeback after the disappointment, becoming the first player since Serena Williams in 2016 to make it to the finals of both the Roland Garros and Wimbledon tournaments consecutively.

According to King, Paolini, who stands at a height of 5 feet and 4 inches, understands that she will need to do a lot of running. While she may have been considered small for the time period King is referring to, she more than makes up for it with her quickness and enjoyment of the game.

Paolini, who is ranked seventh, will compete against the 31st seed Barbora Krejcikova from the Czech Republic as they both strive to win their first Wimbledon championship. This match promises to produce the eighth unique female winner since 2016.

Barty thought that Paolini's optimistic outlook would make her a strong competitor for anyone on the court.

"Her performance improved significantly during the second set," Barty commented. "The audience started cheering for her, she started moving more quickly, her positioning on the court was better, she hit the ball with more power, and suddenly she had the confidence that she could win."

She never gives up on any ball and constantly puts pressure on her opponent to hit one more shot.