Jasmine Paolini produced the biggest upset of this year’s French Open by knocking out fourth seed Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals.
The 28-year-old Italian, who until this year had never progressed beyond the second round at a grand slam tournament, reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros following a 6-2 4-6 6-4 victory.
She was aided by an off-colour performance from former Wimbledon champion Rybakina, who hit 48 unforced errors including 32 from her usually trusty forehand.
The dream run continues #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/vPJ8YXpwaj
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 5, 2024
Paolini, from Tuscany, has enjoyed an amazing 2024 so far having reached the Australian Open fourth round and climbed to a career high 12 in the world last month.
She said: “It’s an unbelievable feeling, it was a really tough match.
“I got a bit too emotional in the second set. But I said to myself ‘she’s a great champion, it can happen’, and I just tried to fight and hit every ball, and I’m here!
It was my first time playing on this beautiful court, it was a pleasure and a privilege to get my first win here
“I tried just to stay there in every point and forget what happened in the second set, it happens, it’s tennis – it’s normal. Accept that and fight again.
“It was my first time playing on this beautiful court, it was a pleasure and a privilege to get my first win here.”
With Jannik Sinner already through, it is the first time an Italian man and woman have reached the semi-finals at the same grand slam.