Friday, 12 July 2024

Paolini wins 1st Wimbledon semi

2024 Wimbledon - Ladie’s Singles Day 11 - semi final (1).

2024 Wimbledon, third Grand Slam tournament of the year, on Grass Outdoor, Wimbledon, England, United Kingdom, 1-14 July 2024

Defending champion:
Marketa Vondrousova who defeated Ons Jabeur (6) 6-4 6-4

Semi final:

Donna Vekic v Jasmine Paolini (7) 

Paolini won two of the three previous contests between the players, including the most recent:
First round Montreal 2023.

First Wimbledon semi final for both players.

Paolini served first and led 40-15.
Vekic brought it back to deuce, then created break point twice.
Paolini saved both and eventually held for 1-0.

Serve held for next two games without any threat. 2-1 Paolini.
Vekic hit two winners in the the fourth game and held to love.
She then played a wonderful drop shot which ended a great rally in game five. 30-30.
Paolini then, when facing a break point, proceeded to net a forehand.

Vekic had clearly settled well, and it reflected with her 3-2 lead.
Despite a double fault, Vekic consolidated in game six, capitalising on an error prone Paolini.

Serving at 2-4, Paolini further fell victim to the Vekic forehand, first to a clear winner, then forced into error on another.
Facing three break points, Paolini saved two, but not a third, and Vekic led 5-2.

Serving for the set, Vekic began with an ace, followed by a service winner.
A love game saw the Croatian take the set 6-2 in a dominant display.

Down 15-30 in the opening game of set two, Paolini found a forehand winner which helped her to ultimately hold serve.
Vekic replied with an ace. Paolini a backhand winner from high. Double fault. 15-30. 
Errors from Paolini and a backhand winner from Vekic to hold. 1-1.

At 30-30 in game three, Paolini double faulted.
Vekic hit a forehand long. Deuce.
Backhand winner from Vekic and another break chance.
Saved with a drop shot winner. An ace to hold serve and lead 2-1.

Vekic double faulted at deuce in game four. Break point saved with an ace.
Serve held for 2-2.

At 30-30 in game five, Paolini netted a backhand and faced break point.
Saved when Vekic missed a forehand.
A second break chance also saved.
Paolini held and led 3-2.

Love game from Vekic, including ace and forehand winner, 3-3.

Vekic served at 4-5 to stay in the set.
Double fault made it 0-30.
Big serve 15-30. Netted forehand from Vekic. Two set points.
Forehand winner from Paolini and she took the set 6-4.

The opening game of the decider saw Paolini facing a break point.
Earlier Vekic contributed a spectacular down the line backhand winner,
Paolini survived the break point, but faced a second once Vekic hit a forehand winner,
Paolini found the net and dropped serve.

In an error ridden game three, Paolini ended the game with a forehand winner but trailed 1-2.

Vekic was down 15-40 in game six.
She survived the first break point, but not the second, and Paolini levelled at 3-3.
Vekic broke back immediately for 4-3.
A third successive break and scores level again 4-4.

Serving at 4-5 to stay in the match, Vekic led 30-15, but two errors gave Paolini match point.
It was saved.
Vekic held for 5-5.

Paolini saved two break points and held for 6-5.
Vekic served again to stay in the match.

Down 30-40 and facing a second match point, Vekic hit a forehand winner.
Deuce.
Serve held and ten point tie break required.

Paolini won the tie break and the match 2-6 6-4 7-6(10-8)

First female since Serena Williams in 2016 to make the Roland Garros and Wimbledon singles finals in same year.

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