Paolini wins epic semi

Italian beats Vekic to reach second straight Grand Slam final

- HOWARD FENDRICH

Jasmine Paolini celebrates after defeating Donna Vekic in Thursday’s marathon 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10-8) match, which, at two hours and 51 minutes, is the longest Wimbledon women’s semifinal on record.

Jasmine Paolini kept coming back, kept coming back, kept coming back against Donna Vekic in the longest Wimbledon women’s semifinal on record. She came back after dropping the opening set, after being two games from defeat in each of the last two sets, after twice trailing by a break in the third.

And all the while, she kept telling herself: “Try, point by point” and “Fight for every ball.”

Paolini never had won a match at the All England Club until last week and now will participate in her second consecutive Grand Slam final, thanks to a rollicking 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10-8) victory Thursday over the unseeded Vekic. The match lasted two hours and 51 minutes.

“This match,” said the No. 7-seeded Paolini, who faces No. 31 Barbora Krejcikova for the title, “I will remember forever.”