CELEBRITY
Wimbledon: Jasmine Paolini and Barbora Krejcikova set up final meeting after thrilling comeback wins in semi-finals
Jasmine Paolini is through to a maiden Wimbledon final where she will face Barbora Krejcikova after the pair secured thrilling come-from-behind victories in the last four.
Paolini had never won a match at the All England Club before this summer, but is one win away from lifting the Venus Rosewater Dish after a rollercoaster 2-6 6-4 7-6 (10-8) success over a tearful Donna Vekic.
Seventh seed Paolini lost the opener thanks to Vekic’s explosive hitting before she levelled up, but found herself 3-1 down in the third.
Even when the French Open runner-up broke back, Vekic immediately responded with a break of her own, but Paolini would not be denied and, as her opponent battled to hold back tears, the Italian held her nerve to win a thrilling tie-break to book her place in Saturday’s final.
The match, which lasted close to three hours, set a new record for the longest-ever Wimbledon women’s semi-final.