PARIS: Jasmine Paolini secured her spot in the French Open final by defeating 17-year-old Russian sensation Mirra Andreeva in the semifinals. The Italian 12th seed displayed an impressive performance, winning the match 6-3, 6-1.
At the age of 28, Paolini is now set to compete in her first-ever Grand Slam final. Prior to this year, she had never progressed beyond the second round of a major tournament. In fact, out of her 16 Grand Slam appearances, she had only managed to win four matches before reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open in January.
Paolini's remarkable journey at Roland Garros has brought her within one victory of an unexpected title. She aims to follow in the footsteps of her compatriot Francesca Schiavone, who triumphed at the 2010 French Open. Additionally, Paolini is guaranteed to break into the top 10 rankings for the first time.
Reflecting on her achievement, Paolini expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to dream in both sports and life. She admitted that she had learned this lesson a bit later than other players but emphasized the importance of having dreams. Overwhelmed with emotions, she struggled to find the right words to describe her happiness.
Andreeva, on the other hand, had made history as the youngest Grand Slam semifinalist in 27 years. Her surprising victory over second seed Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals had propelled her into the spotlight.
However, Andreeva's hopes of becoming the youngest major champion since Martina Hingis at the 1997 US Open were dashed as she failed to replicate the level of play that had previously eliminated an ailing Sabalenka.
In a closely contested first set, Paolini managed to secure the only break in the fourth game. Despite facing five break points in her next two service games, Paolini held her ground and kept Andreeva at bay.
Andreeva's errors continued to accumulate, providing Paolini with another opportunity to break at 1-1 in the second set. Taking advantage of the situation, Paolini broke for a second time, putting herself in a commanding position to claim victory.
As Andreeva grew increasingly disheartened and tears welled up in her eyes, Paolini delivered the final blow by breaking her serve once more, sealing a resounding triumph.
Meanwhile, Swiatek showcased her dominance by defeating Coco Gauff in a convincing fashion, advancing to yet another final at Roland Garros. With this victory, she moves one step closer to becoming the first woman since Justine Henin in 2007 to win the tournament three years in a row, solidifying her status as the world number one.
Swiatek managed to turn the tables against Naomi Osaka in the second round last week, and has been dominating ever since, dropping only 14 games in the following four rounds.
"There was a shift in my game, I adapted better to the court. The initial matches at a Grand Slam are always challenging due to the unique atmosphere," she remarked.
"Facing Naomi was tough as she played aggressively... I've honed my instincts and built up my confidence."
With an impressive 34-2 record at Roland Garros, Swiatek is currently on a remarkable 20-match winning streak at the tournament.
