- Updates from the final at SW19, start of play 2pm BST
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Jasmine Paolini is on a roll. She’s just the fourth woman to reach the final at the French and Wimbledon in the same year since the turn of the century – the others are Justine Henin, Serena Williams and Venus Williams. The last was Serena (of course) in 2016. From there to the semis at Eastbourne into what she’s achieved over the last fortnight. Sure, there was a bit of luck when Madison Keys had to pull out in their fourth-round clash at 5-5 in the third, but you’ve got to make the most of that and she has.
Her previous match evolved into an epic on Thursday. Up against the unseeded Donna Vekic, down a break in the deciding third set (and a match point) Paolini rode it out, broke back, got to the tie break and eventually won it 10-8. Nearly three hours later, it was the longest women’s Wimbledon semi-final ever played.
“Couple of years ago I was working with Jana Novotna, she won it here in 1998. At that point she was telling me a lot of stories about her journeys here and how she was trying to win Wimbledon. I was so far [away] when we had this talk and now I’m here and wow, I’m in the final,” said Krejcikova, pausing to gather herself.
“I have so many beautiful memories and when I step on the court here I’m just fighting for every single ball because I’m sure that’s what she would want me to do. I miss her so much.”