Donna Vekic came close to fulfilling her dream of playing in a Grand Slam final, but Jasmine Paolini secured her second consecutive final spot at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships semi-final.
Vekic, long hailed as a talented tennis player with the potential to be great, faced challenges with consistency and injuries on her journey.
Despite the hurdles, her performance in London showcased a fairy-tale run. She displayed solid performances throughout the event, and although she couldn’t overcome the seventh seed, her efforts were commendable.
Paolini, on the other hand, has been dominating the tennis scene over the past two months. Having made it to the final at Roland Garros and now at Wimbledon, she showcased her prowess. In the semi-final, Vekic took the first set 6-2, exhibiting a strong game.
While Paolini is known for her powerful shots, Vekic took control of the match by maintaining an aggressive stance and hitting 12 winners in the opening set, surpassing Paolini’s 5 winners.
As the match progressed, Paolini found her rhythm in the second set, capitalizing on Vekic’s mistakes to claim a 6-4 victory. The final set saw both players giving their all in an intense battle.
After a tightly contested match, Paolini clinched the win with a score of 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(8) in a thrilling two-hour and 54-minute encounter – setting a record for the longest-ever women’s singles semi-final at Wimbledon.
This victory guarantees Paolini a Top 5 spot on the WTA Tour and a place in the Top 3 of the 2024 WTA Race, marking a significant milestone in her career.
“It was really tough. She played unbelievable. She was hitting winners everywhere. I was struggling at the beginning. I repeated to myself to fight every ball and try to improve a little bit on the court because I was serving really bad.”
“I’m so happy with this win. This match I will remember forever. There’s no place better than here.. to fight every point and every ball. For a tennis player this is the best place to play a match like this. Thank you for cheering for me.”
Donna Vekic vs Jasmine Paolini Match Stats:
| Donna Vekic | Jasmine Paolini | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Aces | 5 |
| 7 | Double Faults | 3 |
| 58% | First Serve % | 63% |
| 83% (48/58) | Points Won After First Serve % | 67% (54/81) |
| 40% (17/42) | Points Won After Second Serve % | 46% (22/48) |
| 27% (4/15) | Break Point Conversion | 43% (3/7) |
| 42 | Winners | 26 |
| 57 | Unforced Errors | 32 |
