* First Italian woman to reach Wimbledon semi-final
By Dwayne Ferreira
Jasmine Paolini has made history by becoming the first Italian woman to reach the semifinals of Wimbledon in the Open Era. She achieved this milestone by defeating American Emma Navarro in a dominant performance, winning in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1, in just 58 minutes. This victory marks a personal career high for Paolini and surpasses the achievements of her Italian predecessors who all fell short of the semifinals.
Navarro had previously won all three encounters with Paolini and initially seemed poised to continue her streak, securing the first break of the match and leading 2-1. However, Paolini quickly regained control, winning 11 of the next 12 games. Her impressive performance included 19 winners, only 12 unforced errors, and a flawless record on Navarro’s second serve, where Navarro failed to win a single point.
In the upcoming semi finals on Thursday, Paolini will face unseeded Donna Vekic of Croatia, who advanced after a hard-fought victory over New Zealand’s Lulu Sun. Paolini leads their head-to-head record 2-1, though this will be their first encounter on grass. Paolini’s historic achievement not only elevates her career but also inspires aspiring tennis players in Italy and beyond as she aims to continue her remarkable run and potentially advance to the finals.
