Jasmine Paolini was given a key instruction by her coach during the Wimbledon final as pointed out by Kim Clijsters.
The Italian engaged in both a tactical and attritional battle with Donna Vekic in an epic semi-final in the British sunshine on Centre Court.
After two hours and 51 minutes Paolini claimed a 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(8) win to advance to the Wimbledon final for the first time in her career.
The 28-year-old beamed with pride after becoming the first woman since Serena Williams in 2016 to reach the championship match at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same season.
Kim Clijsters explains what Jasmine Paolini’s coach said during the Wimbledon semi-final
Paolini and Vekic produced a scintillating contest with both players desperate to make their first Wimbledon final.
In a back and forth encounter, Paolini had two match points saved and it needed a 10-point final set tiebreak to separate the players.
It went right down to the wire and when she earned a third match point while leading 9-8, Clijsters explained what Paolini’s coach Renzo Furlan told her before the last point of the match.
“The coach is saying go for it. Paolini’s coach is saying that you have got to go for it. You have to take this on,” the Belgian told BBC Sounds.
“Donna, when she was up a break, was throwing in a few unforced errors, but now I feel like she is back to playing really good tennis.”
Who is Jasmine Paolini’s coach?
Paolini is coached by former pro tennis player Renzo Furlan. He is a former World number 19 and he reached the quarter-finals of the French Open in 1995.
He has helped instill belief in Paolini and her game as she continues her rich vein of form and is set to compete for her first Grand Slam title.
The 54-year-old has seen Paolini go from having no wins on grass to reaching the Eastbourne semi-finals and now the final of Wimbledon in 2024.
After winning her quarter-final against Emma Navarro, Paolini explained she did not think she could be successful on grass, but coach Furlan always did.
“Maybe I hadn’t realised before, but my coach had always said that I had the qualities to play well here, although I didn’t believe him much,” she said. “My coach repeated many times in Eastbourne that I could do well on grass, but I didn’t believe him.
“The first few days there were not easy, as I had to adapt after several months competing on clay. Match by match, I started feeling better, until now where I am enjoying the grass.”
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