By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennisnow | Thursday, July 3, 2025
Photo Credit: Rob Newell/Camesport
Wimbledon– a year ago, Jasmine Paolini’s The mega-vat smile and electric forehand made it one of the brightest lights in Wimbledon.
On its return SW19, Paolini’s concentration was lit and it faded to a second round loss.
Winless in seven preliminary meetings against the first 10 opponents, no. 80 world Kamilla Rakhimova 2024 finalist of 2024 Paolini from Wimbledon’s Second Round 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Rakhimova said she played a claim to deduct the 2024 contender.
“I’m very excited about this victory. I think I deserved this today, but it also fought hard,” Rakhimova said. “Only I try not to think about the openings and try to focus on my game. It worked for me.
“I just pretend I’m playing a normal girl and not number four in the world and I think I enjoy.”
After suffering her earliest great exit since she lost in the first round of US Open 2023, Paolini said she fought to maintain concentration.
“It was a hard one. I’m still thinking about the second set,” Paolini said. “I can do much better. It plays a great match.
“But honestly, I could play better, especially mentally, stay there a little more focused. My attention was going up and down all the time.”
Four of the top 5 ladies seeds –Coco gafff with the second seed, with the third seed Jessica Pegula, Paolini with the fourth seed and no. 5 Qinwen Zheng Qinwen Zheng– They all went down in the first three days of the game leaving the world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka as the only 5 best seeds still standing.
The pressure of protecting its points in the final of 2024 seemed to weigh on the shoulders of Italy 5’3 ”.
Last July, the French finalist Open Paolini again encountered a split at the last end of Donna Vekic 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (8) in a wild and epic semifinal to increase in her second direct direct final in Wimledon.
Paolini prevailed in an extraordinary two-hour match, 51-minute-half-spectacle Wimbledon ladies in the history of the open era-to hit her way into history.
In the process, Paolini became the first Italian woman in the open era to reach the Wimbledon final – and the first Italian woman in the history of the open era to compete two main finals in two different Grand Slams.
Pressure – and attention – Paolini was felt drained in her return to Wimbledon.
“I think I feel a little tired now. It’s hard to admit,” Paolini said. “It was two months ago intense here. I don’t know, maybe I could go through the first tournament after Roland Garros, Berlin, as I did last year to rest a little.
“I hoped to stay in court today and try to focus every point. But, as I said before, my attention was going up and down. The goal, for sure, for the rest of the season is to restore a little and try to stay mentally there every point.”
