'Emotional, cruel, euphoric' - the incredible semi-final

It was a record-breaking semi-final Wimbledon will not forget.

Two hours and 51 minutes of superb sporting play arsenic Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini defeated unseeded Donna Vekic 2-6 6-4 7-6 (10-8) successful nan longest women's semi-final successful nan tournament's history.

Paolini had ne'er won a lucifer present earlier July. She has now won six successful a row, but nary much nerve-wracking than this.

After losing a bruising opening set, Paolini was successful trouble. At 4-3 and a break down successful nan last set, Vekic was 2 games from glory, contempt being hampered by an wounded to her correct arm.

Paolini fought backmost and had 2 lucifer points arsenic nan rollercoaster title entered a lucifer tie-break.

Then successful a thrilling 10-point tie-break, Paolini trailed 3-1, 6-5 and 8-7 but, to nan delight of a thrilled Centre Court, nan hugely celebrated Italian, pinch a never-say-die attitude, sealed a singular win.

"It's unthinkable erstwhile you're capable to witnesser 2 athletes giving their absolute all, leaving everything connected nan court," said 2021 champion Ash Barty connected BBC TV.

"The uncertainty, nan unpredictability of athletics - it tin beryllium crushing but it tin beryllium truthful euphoric arsenic well, and that's what we've seen.

"It has to beryllium exhausting going done that affectional rollercoaster.

"On 1 broadside of nan nett it's nan crushing defeat, it's demoralising and past for Jasmine Paolini it's nan euphoria of being successful a Wimbledon final. Sport is cruel, isn't it?"

Cruel. Enthralling. Unmissable. Remarkable.

The fans were captivated, and rightly so. Paolini had destroyed Emma Navarro successful 58 minutes, pinch nan American only picking up 3 games successful their quarter-final.

But Thursday's thriller was women's tennis astatine its finest.

"The measurement these women fought - they some showed their emotions much than astir players," said nine-time Wimbledon singles champion Martina Navratilova.

"That's what gets this crowd excited to spot nan players emotion nan athletics truthful much, want it truthful severely and to beryllium truthful happy and truthful depressed, and travel backmost again."

Even nan astir ardent of Paolini supporters would person felt sympathy for Vekic, aiming to go nan first subordinate from Croatia to scope nan women's singles final.

As nan lucifer slipped from her grasp, and pinch nan symptom from her limb wounded driving her to tears, Vekic continued to springiness everything.

It will beryllium a difficult conclusion to return but, erstwhile nan pain, physically and mentally, eases her best-ever Slam tally could beryllium 1 that changes nan people of her career.

Vekic has said she was adjacent to quitting nan athletics earlier Wimbledon.

Yet she has beaten 28th seed Dayana Yastremska, erstwhile world number 2 Paula Badosa and Lulu Sun, who ended Emma Raducanu's tournament.

Aged 28, Vekic will beryllium 21st successful nan world rankings, up from 37th, and only 2 short of her champion placing.

"I dream she doesn't discontinue tennis because this should springiness her an denotation that she tin support going," said six-time champion Billie Jean King, who watched nan lucifer from nan Royal Box.

"Everyone up location was truthful tense - that's nan astir tennis I've played since I retired because I cannot show you really tense it was.

"I don't deliberation I've witnessed a tighter lucifer complete specified a agelong play of time. Whoever won, really deserved it. They some deserved nan win. My chapeau goes to some of them but gosh, I consciousness truthful sorry for Vekic."

While Vekic's early successful nan athletics is uncertain, Paolini's profession trajectory is rising sharply.

Only successful May did she get past nan past 16 of a Slam for nan first time, reaching nan French Open last earlier a chastening 6-2 6-1 hammering by Iga Swiatek.

But what a measurement to respond to that disappointment, arsenic Paolini became nan first subordinate since Serena Williams successful 2016 to scope back-to-back Roland Garros and Wimbledon finals.

"Paolini is 5ft 4in, she knows she is going to person to run," added King. "She would person been correct for our era, but she makes up for it successful velocity and successful her emotion of playing."

Paolini, nan seventh seed, will look 31st seed Barbora Krejcikova of nan Czech Republic arsenic some purpose for their first Wimbledon title, guaranteeing an eighth different female victor since 2016.

Barty felt Paolini's affirmative cognition would make her a reliable force for immoderate player.

"Her power lifted truthful overmuch successful that 2nd set," added Barty. "The crowd sewage down her, her feet moved faster, she was positioned better, she had much velocity connected nan shot and past each of a abrupt location is this belief she tin win.

"There's nary shot she doesn't tally aliases conflict for. She ever tries to make her force play that other ball."