Jasmine Paolini pips Donna Vekic in marathon Wimbledon semi-final

Jasmine Paolini, the diminutive Italian who until last week had never won a match at Wimbledon, reached the final after a dramatic victory over Donna Vekic.

The 28-year-old seventh seed edged a semi-final for the ages 2-6 6-4 7-6 (10-8) after a heart-stopping match tie-break.

Unseeded Vekic, also 28 and playing in her first grand slam semi-final, was in tears at times during a deciding set of unimaginable twists and turns.

But it was Paolini's day as a player who, until this year had spent her career bouncing around outside the top 50, backed up her surprise run to the French Open final by making it a bellissimo Wimbledon.

"This match, I will remember forever," the 5'4" Paolini said.

"I was just trying to think abut what to do on the court, point by point, because I was really in difficulty."

Paolini is the first woman to reach back-to-back Roland Garros and Wimbledon finals since Serena Williams in 2016.

"I think these last months have been crazy for me," she added. "I don’t know, I am just trying to focus on what I have to do on court and enjoying what I am doing.

"I love playing tennis. It is a dream. I was watching finals when I was a kid at Wimbledon. I am just enjoying it and trying to live in the present."

Joy for Jasmine ✨

Jasmine Paolini wins an absolute classic on Centre Court, defeating Donna Vekic 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(8) to reach the #Wimbledon final pic.twitter.com/c2FC9MzZmY

The pressure was on the Paolini serve from the first game, an eight-minute, five-deuce affair in which she just about held.

But Vekic’s powerful, aggressive returning had Paolini under the cosh and took her a set ahead.

Suddenly the Paolini smile which has lit up a gloomy south-west London this fortnight had disappeared.

When a double fault brought Vekic a