The previous longest Wimbledon semi-final was Serena Williams' 6-7(4), 7-5, 8-6 defeat of Elena Dementieva in 2009, a match that lasted 2 hours and 49 minutes.
Some 15 years later, Paolini held her first match point at 5-4 in the third set and her second at 6-5 before overcoming Vekic in the third in a thrilling super tiebreak. The result was her third victory in four meetings with Vekic. Paolini, runner-up at Roland Garros a month ago against Iga Swiatek, immediately backed up that streak with her second grand final. The 28-year-old is the first player since Serena in 2016 to reach the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon in the same season.
Paolini is just the fifth player to achieve that feat in the last 25 years after Steffi Graf (1999), Serena Williams (2002, 2015, 2016), Venus Williams (2002) and Justine Henin (2006).
Paolini, runner-up at Roland Garros a month ago against Iga Swiatek, immediately backed up that streak with her second grand final. The 28-year-old is the first player since Serena in 2016 to reach the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon in the same season.
Paolini is just the fifth player to achieve that feat in the last 25 years after Steffi Graf (1999), Serena Williams (2002, 2015, 2016), Venus Williams (2002) and Justine Henin (2006).
In a nerve-wracking clash, Paolini emerged victorious from the final rally and Center Court rose as one to give both competitors a standing ovation at the end of nearly three hours of thrilling tennis.
The last few bars had been the most tense. Vekic led 3-1 in the third set and broke again for 4-3, but Paolini had stopped her on both occasions. Vekic managed to find a service winner to avoid a match point down 5-4, but came out on the wrong end of a five-deuce fight in the next game as Paolini held for 6-5. In the final point of that game, Vekic exhausted her final Hawkeye challenge and looked devastated when she showed that her forehand had missed by inches.
But Vekic fought bravely until the end. She saved another match point down 6-5 by hitting a forehand winner to end one of the best rallies of the day and remained committed to attacking from that wing during a tiebreaker in which neither player was ever close. more than two points from the other. .
However, as the match progressed, Paolini was able to find more and more ways to counter Vekic's pace and quickly sensed an opportunity for herself. Time and time again, she located Vekic's hardest shots and then turned defense into offense as soon as she could set up her forehand. In the end, it was Vekic's forehand that missed the final two points.
It was Vekic who set the tone for the first semifinal of Wimbledon 2024 by winning the first set. Her mastery came about thanks to magnificent service. The world number 37 lost only three points in total on her serve and had no remorse in punishing Paolini's second serve.
Although Paolini won 11 of 15 first serve points, that figure dropped to just five of 17 on her second serve. Unable to advance steadily, Paolini found only five winners to Vekic's 12.
But in the second set Paolini emerged with renewed intensity. She began reading Vekic's sneak shot strategy and responded with precise lobs and brilliant volleys. At 2-2, she fended off two break points with a decisive serve.
The turning point came at 4-4. After a desperate defensive lob from Paolini (above), Vekic prepared to score the winner. Amid gasps from the crowd, Paolini held on and took advantage of her opportunity in the next game by increasing her aggression on the return.
Some 15 years later, Paolini held her first match point at 5-4 in the third set and her second at 6-5 before overcoming Vekic in the third in a thrilling super tiebreak. The result was her third victory in four meetings with Vekic. Paolini, runner-up at Roland Garros a month ago against Iga Swiatek, immediately backed up that streak with her second grand final. The 28-year-old is the first player since Serena in 2016 to reach the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon in the same season.
Paolini is just the fifth player to achieve that feat in the last 25 years after Steffi Graf (1999), Serena Williams (2002, 2015, 2016), Venus Williams (2002) and Justine Henin (2006).
Paolini, runner-up at Roland Garros a month ago against Iga Swiatek, immediately backed up that streak with her second grand final. The 28-year-old is the first player since Serena in 2016 to reach the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon in the same season.
Paolini is just the fifth player to achieve that feat in the last 25 years after Steffi Graf (1999), Serena Williams (2002, 2015, 2016), Venus Williams (2002) and Justine Henin (2006).
In a nerve-wracking clash, Paolini emerged victorious from the final rally and Center Court rose as one to give both competitors a standing ovation at the end of nearly three hours of thrilling tennis.
The last few bars had been the most tense. Vekic led 3-1 in the third set and broke again for 4-3, but Paolini had stopped her on both occasions. Vekic managed to find a service winner to avoid a match point down 5-4, but came out on the wrong end of a five-deuce fight in the next game as Paolini held for 6-5. In the final point of that game, Vekic exhausted her final Hawkeye challenge and looked devastated when she showed that her forehand had missed by inches.
But Vekic fought bravely until the end. She saved another match point down 6-5 by hitting a forehand winner to end one of the best rallies of the day and remained committed to attacking from that wing during a tiebreaker in which neither player was ever close. more than two points from the other. .
However, as the match progressed, Paolini was able to find more and more ways to counter Vekic's pace and quickly sensed an opportunity for herself. Time and time again, she located Vekic's hardest shots and then turned defense into offense as soon as she could set up her forehand. In the end, it was Vekic's forehand that missed the final two points.
It was Vekic who set the tone for the first semifinal of Wimbledon 2024 by winning the first set. Her mastery came about thanks to magnificent service. The world number 37 lost only three points in total on her serve and had no remorse in punishing Paolini's second serve.
Although Paolini won 11 of 15 first serve points, that figure dropped to just five of 17 on her second serve. Unable to advance steadily, Paolini found only five winners to Vekic's 12.
But in the second set Paolini emerged with renewed intensity. She began reading Vekic's sneak shot strategy and responded with precise lobs and brilliant volleys. At 2-2, she fended off two break points with a decisive serve.
The turning point came at 4-4. After a desperate defensive lob from Paolini (above), Vekic prepared to score the winner. Amid gasps from the crowd, Paolini held on and took advantage of her opportunity in the next game by increasing her aggression on the return.
