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Victor Petkov
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Paolini wins 3-set thriller clash vs Vekic to reach Wimbledon final
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The 7-seeded writes history as the first Italian to reach the last game of the tournament

Jasmine Paolini made history by becoming the first Italian woman to reach the Wimbledon final after an epic battle against Croatian Donna Vekic, winning 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(8) in the longest women’s semi-final in the history of the All England Club.

The match, which lasted two hours and 51 minutes, captivated fans on Centre Court with its dramatic twists and emotional intensity.

Vekic, 28, started strong, comfortably taking the first set 6-2 by breaking Paolini’s serve in the fifth and seventh games. Her varied play, combining groundstrokes with dropshots, overwhelmed Paolini initially. However, Paolini, bolstered by the support of Italian fans in the stands, shifted her strategy in the second set. She became more aggressive, frequently approaching the net and putting Vekic on the defensive. This change in tactics paid off, and Paolini secured a crucial break to win the second set 6-4.

The final set was a nail-biter, with both players exchanging breaks and committing numerous unforced errors. Vekic, visibly fatigued and emotional, fought valiantly, even shedding tears after saving Paolini’s first match point. A dramatic moment came when Paolini successfully challenged a line call, leading to an almost 10-minute game that left Vekic sobbing during the changeover. Despite Vekic’s efforts to stay in the match by saving another match point and holding serve to force a tiebreak, Paolini ultimately triumphed.

Paolini’s victory marks her second consecutive Grand Slam final appearance, following her runner-up finish at the French Open last month. She will face either Barbora Krejcikova or Elena Rybakina in the final, aiming to continue her impressive run and secure her first Grand Slam title.