Jasmine Paolini will always remember how she sealed her place in the last eight at Wimbledon but the reason why is unfortunate.
The Italian was locked in a hard-fought battle against the more experienced Maidson Keys. For more than two hours they sternly tested each other with Paolini down 1-5 in the second frame before fighting back to draw level before the same scenario occurred in the decider. However, the roller-coaster battle came to a sad ending with Keys being forced to call it quits at 5-5 in the final set due to a leg injury she picked up during the match.
“I hope she recovers soon. I think we played a really good match.” Paolini said during her press conference.
“I was trying to fight for every point because you never know on grass if you are up or if you are down, every match can I think turn. I was, like, just be focused and try to win points, to play points by point.”
Paolini’s run comes during what is a breakout season for her. Earlier this year she won her first WTA 1000 title in Dubai before going on to reach her first major final at Roland Garros. She has scored wins over top 10 players Ons Jabeur (Stuttgart) and Elena Rybakina (French Open). Her latest milestone is becoming the first Italian woman in the Open Era to reach the quarter-finals of both the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year.
“It’s a little bit also strange to be in this position because I’ve never been in this position.” She said of her rise in the sport.
“I always thought it would be great to be in this position. Now I’m here winning more matches this year.
“It’s important to me to enjoy every moment because it’s a dream. Also, I think a privilege to play these kinds of matches on these courts.”
So far at Wimbledon, the 28-year-old has only dropped one set in four matches played. Earlier in the tournament she defeated former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu, Greet Minnen and Sara Sorribes Tormo. Before 2024, she had never won a main draw match at the tournament.
Admitting that she is surprised by her surge in the sport, Paolini now has a match against either Coco Gauff or Emma Navarro to prepare for. Two players she has yet to defeat on the Tour.
“I think every match is different. I’m going to step on the court trying to play my game to try to beat one of them. But it’s not going to be easy because I think both of them are playing unbelievable.” She concluded.
