(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 13 - Italy's Jasmine lost the Wimbledon
women singles final 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 to
Czech Barbora Krejcikova in an dramatic encounter on Saturday.
It is a second consecutive Grand Slam final defeat for the
28-year-old late bloomer after she lost 6-2, 6-1 to defending
champion and world number one Iga Świątek of Poland at the
French Open last month.
The Tuscan player, who had already made history by becoming the
first Italian woman to reach a Wimbledon final, make a shaky
start and lost her serve twice as she surrendered the first set.
But she roared back in the second, when she finally managed to
put Krejcikova under pressure on her serve and immediately made
it pay, taking two games against it.
The third set went with serve until the seventh game, when
Paolini conceded the second of two break points with a double
fault.
She made Krejcikova work hard for the title, earning two break
points in the final game and saving two championship points
against her before finally going down.
Paolini, who had never won a game on grass before this season,
was gracious in defeat.
"You play such beautiful tennis Barbora," said the Italian, who
became a favourite with fans at Wimbledon with her big smile and
cheerful disposition "Congratulations to you and your team.
"Today I'm a bit sad. I'm trying to keep smiling because I have
to remember that today is still I beautiful day.
"I'm in a Wimbledon final and when I was a kid I watched the
final and rooted for Federer.
"It's crazy to be here.
"From Paris to Wimbledon, the last two months have been crazy,
and these last two weeks even more so.
"It was beautiful to feel the love of the public". (ANSA).
Paolini loses Wimbledon final to Czech Krejcikova (4)
Italian goes down 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 at end of 'crazy two months'