“I’m surprised a little bit how I’m managing this” – Paolini relaxed heading into second straight Grand Slam final
The Italian will play Czech Barbora Krejcikova for the Wimbledon singles title on Saturday
Jasmine Paolini, Wimbledon 2024
Jasmine Paolini has surprised the tennis world by reaching two consecutive Grand Slam finals – at the French Open and Wimbledon – the first female player to do so since Serena Williams in 2016.
The Italian is also surprising herself with how she has been able to be relaxed so far this fortnight even as she agrees she would have thought anyone picking her to reach two Slams finals this year even two months ago would have been crazy.
” Two Grand Slam finals in a row was crazy to believe, I think, no? I’m also surprising how at the moment, until now in this moment, I’m living this,” the 28-year-old told the media in London after her win. “I feel also relaxed. I’m the same person. I’m doing the same things. I don’t know. I’m surprised a little bit how I’m managing this. I don’t want to say more because maybe Saturday I’m going to be shaking. I’m surprising by myself to live this with really relaxing mood, you know?”
I was just trying to repeat to myself to keep going, try to be close to her, just believe that the match can turn whenever.
On Thursday, Paolini fought back from a set down to beat Croatia’s Donna Vekic 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10-8) in two hours and 51 minutes – the longest women’s semi-final in Wimbledon history. Later, she said she tried to tell herself to keep things close in the second set and believe that the match could turn around at any point.
“Today was really, really tough. At the beginning I was really struggling. She was serving really well. She was make me run every ball. I wasn’t serving well. I was just trying to repeat to myself to keep going, try to be close to her, just believe that the match can turn whenever. It worked, I have to say. I won the second set, then I won the third. It was a really, really tough match mentally and physically, as well.”
The Italian will face Czech Barbora Krejcikova in the women’s singles final on Saturday with both aiming to win their first Wimbledon singles title.
