Donna Vekic - Jasmine Paolini live: Wimbledon women - Tennis ...
Updated 11/07/2024 at 15:08 GMT
PAOLINI 2-6 6-4 6-5 VEKIC
Paolini doggedly battles back from 0-30 but still faces up to break point No.13 when Donna rips a gigantic forehand winner down the line.
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The World No.37 can’t convert with a wild backhand return into the tramlines leading to Jasmine releasing the tension with a big ‘Come On!’ that the Centre Court crowd absolutely lap up.
It’s a tense rollercoaster around deuce with game points galore and a second BP for Donna, but in the end Jasmine wriggles through when a challenge on a ball called ‘in’ goes her way by the slimmest of margins.
PAOLINI 2-6 6-4 5-5 VEKIC
The grit and resilience in this match has been all about Paolini – but Donna Vekic has just saved match point to keep her dream alive.
The Croatian unravels at 30-15 up and booms a forehand long to offer up MP.
Paolini can’t make it happen on the return and Donna finds clutch serves before a slice of luck sees a forehand slap the tape and bobble over!
PAOLINI 2-6 6-4 5-4 VEKIC
The pendulum of momentum has dramatically swung the way of Paolini now.
The Italian looks fit and sharp while Vekic appears to be struggling physically and mentally.
The No.7 seed picks the perfect time to roar through a clean hold and all of a sudden Vekic is serving to stay in the tournament…
15:48
BREAK! – PAOLINI 2-6 6-4 4-4 VEKIC
Vekic is getting awfully tight out there.
The forehand was purring early doors but it’s leaking a bit now.
The Croatian has also been double faulting more regularly and it’s all a recipe for disaster.
Paolini doesn’t have to do much but get the ball back on the island and Vekic drills another forehand long to hand back the break.
15:43
BREAK! – PAOLINI 2-6 6-4 3-4 VEKIC
Paolini sizzles an absolute lightning bolt of a forehand pass to level at 15-15 but a deep, loopy return from Vekic gives the Italian a taste of her own medicine and turns the screw further.
The Croatian hasn’t had much luck with passing shots recently but a drilled one to the No.7 seed’s body lures a rare low volley error into the net and she breaks on the first of two chances with a blistering crosscourt return to regain the initiative.
15:40
BREAK! – PAOLINI 2-6 6-4 3-3 VEKIC
Vekic holds her hand up to her box and asks them to stop.
She’s fed up of the constant backseat driving as a clear dip in level sees her miss off both flanks and offer two break points.
Paolini blows the first with a forehand miss off a second serve, but a deep backhand return does the job as Donna sweeps the reply into the net.
Image credit: Getty Images
PAOLINI 2-6 6-4 2-3 VEKIC
It’s another thrill ride on the Paolini serve as Vekic poses more questions at 30-30 after a fourth ace had put the No.7 seed in charge at 30-0.
A fabulous crosscourt return ups the ante at deuce but Donna miscues a backhand before failing to pass an imperious Jasmine at the net.
PAOLINI 2-6 6-4 1-3 VEKIC
Donna maintains her advantage with a clean hold that is far too routine from Paolini’s point of view.
PAOLINI 2-6 6-4 1-2 VEKIC
It’s another close-call on the Paolini serve as Vekic fizzes a return a whisker long on what is her 11th break point of this semi final.
The Italian’s fight and spirit is admirable and she stays in touch as a forehand bullet pulls her on to the board.
PAOLINI 2-6 6-4 0-2 VEKIC
Vekic throws in her sixth double of the match but the first serve does most of the heavy lifting as she consolidates to 30 to take this decider by the scruff of the neck.
Image credit: Getty Images
15:17
BREAK! – PAOLINI 2-6 6-4 0-1 VEKIC
It was no surprise to see Donna take a comfort break ahead of the decider as she aims to reset and put the disappointment of losing that set behind her.
The World No.37 starts on the front foot, blasting away a backhand winner and then staying focused amidst a blur of sensational Paolini defence to clock up a BP with a drive volley.
Jasmine swats it away to make deuce but sees a second serve get the treatment and then crumbles on the second with a tired forehand into the net.
15:06
SET! - PAOLINI 2-6 6-4 VEKIC
Jasmine Paolini, everybody! Only the Italian knows how she has won this set.
The No.7 seed lands a huge return to lure the error and clock up two SPs after Vekic had wobbled with a double fault.
The Italian jumps all over another timid second serve and races to the forecourt to fire away a forehand winner and force the decider.
Jasmine had some really tricky moments in her service games but always found a way and now she has her reward.
Vekic can’t help but smile and place her hands on her hips after somehow walloping a forecourt smash miles off the island.
It followed a pulsating point where Paolini had somehow hoisted a defensive shot over her shoulder from deep behind her baseline after Donna thought she’d won the point with a sublime crosscourt lob.
It should be 15-30 but instead Paolini has the edge and she uses the momentum to apply the scoreboard pressure by finishing the game with her third ace.
An error-strewn game from 30-0 up could easily turn sour for Donna at 30-30 but she quickly rights the wrong with a sixth ace and another service winner to pull level once more.
It’s more hard work for Jasmine but she’s up to the task.
A forehand smash goes horribly wrong but she rescues the situation from 15-30 down and dodges the danger at deuce as the Vekic backhand misfires twice in quick succession.
Vekic pounds away at the Paolini defence and finally breaches it with a close-range crosscourt forehand. It was quite incredible resistance from the Italian but in the end the incessant power, depth and precision proved too good.
Donna then slams down a fifth ace and another un-returnable serve to tot up a clean hold and quickly reach parity on the board.
The Vekic backhand spells out trouble for Jasmine as the Croatian spears a winner down the line before conjuring up a supreme crosscourt pass on the run.
Paolini staves off two separate break points and eventually steers her way out of seriously choppy waters with great depth on a forehand to force the error into the net.
Paolini is feeding on the encouragement of the crowd and is definitely raising her level.
The No.7 seed surges forward to block away a volley on the stretch for deuce and Donna offers up a first BP of the match with a double fault.
The Croatian wipes it out with a timely service winner and it’s the clutch serve that lights the way to safety from there.
Paolini puffs out her cheeks as her first double fault of the match coughs up another break point.
Vekic goes for the kill but frowns in dismay when a sizzling forehand lands just long.
Centre Court's crowd encourage the Italian once again and Paolini delivers the goods with an exquisite, low stun volley before pulling off the escape with a maiden ace.
