logo
Jasmine Paolini, Wimbledon finalist in 2024, goes out in second round

Jasmine Paolini, Wimbledon finalist in 2024, goes out in second round

Yahoo4 days ago
THE ALL ENGLAND CLUB, LONDON — A year after Jasmine Paolini's stunning run to the 2024 Wimbledon final, she joined the exodus of top women's seeds from this year's tournament.
With shadows slanting across No. 3 Court, Kamilla Rakhimova came from a set down against the No. 4 seed to seal one of the biggest upsets of a tournament which so far has been defined by them. The world No. 80, who started the second-round match with nothing to lose, grew into her tennis as the stakes got higher and the prospect of claiming the biggest win of her career drew closer.
Advertisement
A crosscourt forehand sent a puff of white flying up on the opening point of the final game as it clipped the sideline, with Paolini sinking to her haunches in disbelief as she had found herself doing since the early part of the match. Rakhimova blasted through two more points, but a fluffed drop shot and a missed forehand saw two match points disappear. Another miss and it was deuce.
Her control was all the more impressive given the nature of the match. Rakhimova had broken back late in the first set with Paolini serving for it at 5-3, only to be broken herself in the very next game. After taking a tight second set, the Russian broke in the very first game of the third — arguably too early against a player of Paolini's quality and tenacity. She had nine games to think about what she was doing as they exchanged holds, nine games for the pressure to take hold or for her to realize the achievement in her hands.
From that deuce in the final game, Rakhimova did not let up. She sent another inside-in forehand crashing past Paolini's defenses, before slamming a serve out wide and on to the sideline. Paolini's return floated into the air and hung there for what seemed like an age. Rakhimova let it bounce, before crushing the ball crosscourt and dropping her racket in delight at the end of a 4-6, 6-4. 6-4 win.
Paolini's exit means that four of the top five seeds have gone out in the first three days; only world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has survived. Coco Gauff, the No. 2, and Jessica Pegula, the No. 3, lost in straight sets to Dayana Yastremska of Spain and Elisabetta Cocciaretto of Italy respectively, while Zheng Qinwen lost to Kateřina Siniaková.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Tennis, Women's Tennis
2025 The Athletic Media Company
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Sonay Kartal: The unlikely heroine flying the flag for Britain
Sonay Kartal: The unlikely heroine flying the flag for Britain

Yahoo

time32 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Sonay Kartal: The unlikely heroine flying the flag for Britain

With 14 tattoos, a retro range of baggy Adidas clothes, and a childhood spent around her parents' kebab shop while struggling to afford tennis coaching, the sense that Sonay Kartal's Wimbledon fairy tale could reach far beyond a traditional tennis fanbase is obvious. We also now know that it was almost over before it started, with Kartal revealing ahead of her big Centre Court debut on Sunday how her baby steps in tennis – at the Pavilion & Avenue club in Brighton – became tinged with fear and anxiety. Advertisement 'We used to do this thing called the lines game, it's a little warm-up,' she said. 'They'd shout, 'service line', and all the kids had to run to the service line. That was always the first game and I was too shy for three months to actually come on court. My coach Julie [Hobbs] finally managed to get me to do it. I tried to run to the outside tramline, tripped over, burst into tears. Off I went, and I didn't come back for a couple of months.' It is a story that plenty of parents and children will relate to, with Hobbs, a former British No 1, eventually coaxing her back to the sport. Fast forward 17 years and you did not need long around a packed Court 16 on Saturday to feel the impact that Kartal is having. Fresh from three brilliant singles wins, she was in doubles action alongside her friend Jodie Burrage in front of a distinctly youthful audience. Kartal has attracted a youthful following after a successful first week at Wimbledon - Getty Images/Rob Newell Kartal, who is now 23 and the last remaining British woman in the singles draw, hopes that her story can particularly inspire girls who are shy about sport. Advertisement 'My coach has a daughter and she was super shy, got into tennis and has changed like a completely different person,' she said. 'She's got so much more personality, she's so much more talkative.' And is playing sport becoming cooler for girls? 'I think it's changing,' she says. 'I think now a lot of girls are getting more comfortable with having more muscle on their body. I think that's turning, which is obviously incredible. 'I don't think anyone should feel like girls have to look a certain way. I think that's changing in tennis as well. You look at the tennis players, everyone's all different physiques and sizes and heights. So, it's definitely getting more versatile. If I can inspire kids, whether that's boys or girls, then I'm obviously doing something good.' Kartal played football and cricket at a similar level to her tennis until she was 13 and is a self-confessed sports lover. 'I was a little bit of a tomboy and super sporty,' she said. 'I loved football. My school actually used to have a lot of girls football and I used to go to my local park with my dad. In cricket I was always the batter and just launching [the ball] as far as I could.' Saturday's doubles might not have gone to plan – Kartal and Burrage were beaten in straight sets – but her partner could sense the buzz. Kartal had been informed that she would be first up on Centre Court at 1.30pm on Sunday against the Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova just before stepping on court with Burrage. Advertisement 'Her story shows there's not one way to do what we do – but multiple ways,' said Burrage. 'She has done incredible – and she is going to go a lot higher. For everyone out there, regardless of where you are from, you can do it if you put your mind to it – especially like this chick here. That's the moral of this story.' Kartal's ranking has risen from 864 in 2022 to the world's top 50 – she will overtake Emma Raducanu as the British No 2 once Wimbledon is done and dusted – and Burrage clearly does not think the story will end against Pavlyuchenkova. 'I've got full belief,' she said. Kartal goes into the match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in confident mood - Eddie Mulholland for The Telegraph There certainly seems little chance of the attention going to Kartal's head. She was six when she made that first trip to a tennis club following an invitation from a tennis official who had eaten at one of her father's two Turkish restaurants. And, while she was competitive against players like Emma Raducana through the British junior rankings, has largely progressed in senior tennis away from the limelight. Advertisement Kartal's social media remains largely fixated with animals or food and, perhaps most telling of all, she has resisted inevitable pressure to change a coaching team that, as well as Hobbs, also still includes Ben and Martin Reeves from her original club in Brighton. 'I was hearing people saying, you know, 'Do you think you should get a coach that has already done that?' But I didn't want that. If I can have a coach that can take me from a six-year-old to the WTA Tour, I think that's obviously good enough. We just learned together. It's kind of doing this crazy thing together. Kartal did find herself being recognised during a 'tricky' trip to the shops near Wimbledon on Friday night and her phone has been flooded with suggestions for her next tattoo. They have included one of Centre Court itself, a vintage polo shirt in recognition of her distinctive Adidas playing top and, from Burrage, an image of fire and ice. 'I actually like that,' she said. Among other things, Kartal is known for her tattoos - Eddie Mulholland for The Telegraph Fans are now suggesting what tattoo Kartal gets next - Eddie Mulholland for The Telegraph She has, until now, remained a member of the same no-thrills High Street gym in Brighton, although wonders if she may now have to review that arrangement. 'It was getting a bit tricky prior [to Wimbledon]. But to be honest they were actually pretty respectful there [at the gym]. They would just say hello and then just let me get on with it. So maybe I'll have to test that when I'm back. I go to the gym and just kind of have a bit of 'me time', stick my headphones in and just forget about the world. Advertisement 'People think I don't like [being in the spotlight], because I have gone under the radar my whole life but I don't have an issue with being in the spotlight or not being in the spotlight. I'll take it as a compliment.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.

Tennis starlet Daniela Piani intent on learning everything from Wimbledon
Tennis starlet Daniela Piani intent on learning everything from Wimbledon

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Tennis starlet Daniela Piani intent on learning everything from Wimbledon

By Mohamed Hamza at Wimbledon Hull tennis starlet Daniela Piani admitted she is intent on absorbing as much as she can from her last-ever Wimbledon as a junior. The 18-year-old is competed in the girls' singles draw for the final time of her nascent career after a 7-5 6-4 defeat to Vendula Valdmannova but remains in doubles contention, where she is joining forces with good friend Brooke Black. Advertisement And with the countdown on her time in the junior circuit already begun, Piani plans to live every moment to the fullest. 'Playing at Wimbledon is completely different to every tournament,' said Piani. 'I'm grateful to be able to play. It's my last junior tournament so honestly I was hoping to give it my all and leave it out on the court and I did that. 'I could've played a little bit better but you're not going to play perfect tennis all the time. I'm just going to enjoy every moment and I was super happy that I was given the chance to play. 'I'm just trying to enjoy being on the court. 'I've got my technical stuff that I can still work on but just being able to give it my all and not let anything get to me that's outside my control. Advertisement 'It's great when you come here, no matter what point you are in a match, the crowd are always behind you.' Piani is next in action on Tuesday, where she and Black take on Czech sisters Alena and Jana Kovackova. 'I'm super excited,' added Piani. 'Me and Brooke have played loads of times together and doubles is really fun, even more so with a home crowd. I enjoy playing it and I'm super excited for it.' For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website

Cruz Hewitt wins in juniors on Wimbledon debut
Cruz Hewitt wins in juniors on Wimbledon debut

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Cruz Hewitt wins in juniors on Wimbledon debut

Cruz Hewitt (left) was born six years after his father Lleyton (right) won Wimbledon [Getty Images] Wimbledon 2025 Venue: All England Club Dates: 30 June-13 July Coverage: Live across BBC TV, radio and online with extensive coverage on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, Connected TVs and mobile app. Full coverage guide. Advertisement Australia's Cruz Hewitt was victorious on his first appearance at Wimbledon - 23 years after his father, Lleyton, claimed the men's singles title. Wearing the type of back-to-front cap that was his dad's trademark, the 16-year-old beat Russian Savva Rybkin 6-1 6-2 in the first round of the boys' competition. Lleyton, who beat David Nalbandian in the 2002 Wimbledon final, was courtside for his son's victory. Former world number one Lleyton also won the 2001 US Open and reached the final of the 2005 Australian Open. Cruz made his senior Grand Slam debut at the 2025 Australian Open after being given a wildcard into qualifying. Advertisement He lost in the first round and went on to reach the second round of the juniors competition. Cruz, who is playing alongside Britain's Mark Ceban in the boys' doubles at SW19, will face Finnish 11th seed Oskari Paldanius next.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store