Jasmine Paolini’s breakthrough 2024 season now includes a slice of national history.
The Roland Garros finalist rolled to a 6-2, 6-1 win over No. 19 seed Emma Navarro at Wimbledon on Tuesday to reach the semifinals of the grass-court Grand Slam for the first time — and become the first woman from her country to every reach a Wimbledon semifinal.
Italian women had previously been 0-4 in Wimbledon quarterfinals before Paolini’s 58-minute triumph on Centre Court, which was also her first-ever win against Navarro — who had upset No.2 seed Coco Gauff in the Round of 16 — in four tries.
From an early break down at 2-1, Paolini soared to 11 of the next 12 games, ending the match with 19 winners — more than triple Navarro’s six — as both players hit 12 unforced errors. She only faced the one break point in the first set, and saved all three she faced in the second set, while breaking Navarro’s serve five times in total.
Afterwards, an incredulous Paolini could barely believe what she’d just achieved.
“I was watching finals when I was a kid on this court. It’s strange to be here and to get the win, and to be in the semifinals in Wimbledon,” she said. “I feel so happy.
Paolini’s revelatory 2024 season has seen her ascend into the Top 10 in both singles and doubles, and her prowess in the latter was on full display against Navarro — proving that finishing points at net on the green stuff can still be a winning formula.
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