Wimbledon men’s doubles final! Patten, along with his Finnish partner Harri Heliovaara, have defeated his fellow Briton and last year’s champion Neal Skupski, who was playing with New Zealand’s Michael Venus, 6-4 7-6. They’ll face Australia’s Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson in Saturday’s final.Wimbledon finals in the same year. And she’s not been beyond the second round of a slam before this year. Women’s tennis eh? Wonderfully unpredictable.Wimbledon history, at two hours and 51 minutes, Jasmine Paolini, the 28-year-old who’d never even won a match here before this year, is into the final! A heartbreaking, gut-wrenching loss for Vekic, who’s applauded by Paolini as she leaves the court. That was absorbing and see-sawing; intense and totally draining. A match for the history books.
Wimbledon history, as Vekic moves to 8-7 …Wimbledon final!
Paolini breaks: Vekic 6-2, 4-6, 4-4 Paolini* (*denotes next server)
Vekic, appearing to be in some discomfort with her arm, drops 15-40 down. A big serve out wide … but it’s called out. So two break points for Paolini and a second serve. And Vekic, having looked so assured for most of this match, wildly hits long! We’re back on serve. Again. Who wins from here? I’ve absolutely no idea. But if you really pushed me I’m going for Paolini.
Vekic breaks: Vekic* 6-2, 4-6, 4-3 Paolini (*denotes next server)
But then no sooner has Paolini broken, than she’s in danger of being broken herself. The Italian slumps to 15-40 when she is unable to control her volley. Now Paolini is a bundle of nerves; does anyone want to win this match? Maybe Vekic does – because a thunderous forehand secures the break. But let’s see if she can hold this time.
Paolini breaks: Vekic 6-2, 4-6, 3-3 Paolini* (*denotes next server)
More clapping and forza-ing as Paolini pulls slightly ahead at 15-30. Paolini is living dangerously in the next rally with a shot that just lands in – but then Vekic does actually end up going long. 15-40. Vekic has some stern words for her box; she wants them to be quiet so she can focus on saving these two break points. That’s a sign she’s feeling the tension. Paolini taps her head with her racket after not being able to do anything on the first. But she’s screaming in delight when she takes it on the second, as a poor Vekic shot shows how much the Croatian is struggling to contain her nerves right now.
Third set: Vekic* 6-2, 4-6, 3-2 Paolini (*denotes next server)
Another sniff of a double break for Vekic as she dispatches the smash for 30-all on Paolini’s serve. Paolini takes her time – before sending her first serve into the net. The second serve she lands, and then she absolutely wallops a forehand cross-court winner! That was one of her punchiest shots of the day. Vekic appears to be struggling with her arm. Or maybe it’s just nerves she’s trying to shake out. 40-30 becomes deuce and then advantage Paolini. “FORZA! FORZA!! FORZA!!!” the Italian tells herself. Paolini is a wall at the net and hits a superb low volley to seal the hold. Her mum smiles and claps.
Third set: Vekic 6-2, 4-6, 3-1 Paolini* (*denotes next server)
Daniel excitedly messages me to say Patten and Heliovaara are a set up in their men’s doubles semi-final on No 1 Court – just as Vekic rips through her serve to love. That’ll have felt good at this stage of the match; there haven’t been too many simple holds of late. Vekic is edging closer to the finish line – can she stay calm and composed?
Third set: Vekic* 6-2, 4-6, 2-1 Paolini (*denotes next server)
Vekic has a double break in her sights at 15-30 – which becomes 30-40 when Paolini’s backhand balloons wide. The Italian hopes Hawk-Eye will rescue her but it doesn’t. So it’s break point. But she then takes matters into her own hands with three successive points, rounding things off with a fizzing forehand cross-court winner! Paolini absolutely pelts back to her chair.
Third set: Vekic 6-2, 4-6, 2-0 Paolini* (*denotes next server)
That break was an unexpected change in momentum after Paolini’s late charge in the second set. And Vekic isn’t willing to surrender the initiative that she’s wrested back in this match. She holds to 15 and is practising her shots and jumping up and down on the baseline as she waits for Paolini to serve in the next game. Paolini’s energy is clearly contagious …
Vekic breaks: Vekic* 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 Paolini (*denotes next server)
Vekic is back. And the level hasn’t dropped one bit. Paolini is charging around like the Duracell bunny at 30-all – Vekic must be wondering how many times she has to try to win the point – but eventually the Croatian does. So here’s an early break point. Vekic can’t take it as she makes the error. Deuce. Advantage Vekic, a second break point. Given the two players are level in the match, this game is a pretty good gauge of who the crowd want to win. And it’s Paolini who’s drawing the bigger cheers. So there’s only polite applause when Vekic does break.
Vekic takes her leave to regather her thoughts. So time for us to gather ours. Vekic played so well in that second set – but it still wasn’t enough against the fight of Paolini, who was rewarded for mixing up the pace and her court positions. I’d make Paolini the slight favourite for this third set – she has the recent experience of coming through in the French Open semi-finals to draw on – but Vekic is playing some superb attacking tennis here and if she can put that overhead to the back of her mind can still be victorious.
If Vekic loses this match that missed smash is probably going to haunt her for many a night.
That remarkable point in the previous game seems to have energised Paolini, who charges to 0-15 on the serve of Vekic – who then double faults for 0-30. But Vekic has been able in this match to come up with big serves when it matters and she does so agains for 15-30. But look! Two sets points at 15-40 for a third set – no less than this match deserves. Paolini has Vekic stumbling after an arrowed backhand down the line, and Paolini finishes her off with a forehand winner. Fancy a third set of this? Of course you do!
Second set: Vekic* 6-2, 4-5 Paolini (*denotes next server)
A lesson in perseverance for us all at 15-all, as Paolini scrambles back to chase down the lob, chops the ball back while not even facing the net, and Vekic – with the entire court to aim into – miscues with the smash! A wry smile from Vekic here. And Paolini comes through to hold to 15, sealing it with only her third ace.
Second set: Vekic 6-2, 4-4 Paolini* (*denotes next server)
A gasp as Vekic nets her drop shot at 30-0. Another as Vekic wallops wide at 30-15. But Vekic takes the next two points to hold. Looking at her face right now, you’d have no idea she was winning. And she’s still moving around at half-pace between points. Paolini, meanwhile, is all energy and fight and endeavour. But potentially Vekic is two games from her first grand slam final.
