(Paris) The Italian Jasmine Paolini, 15th in the world, created a surprise by beating the Kazakh Elena Rybakina (4th) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, Wednesday at Roland-Garros and thus reached the final four of a Grand Slam tournament.
“It’s unbelievable… the match was very difficult and I was too tense in the second set, but I stayed in the match and here I am! », Launched in her hoarse voice the 28-year-old player who had never before made it past the round of 16 at a Grand Slam (reached in Australia this year). At Roland Garros, she had never made it past the second round.
Paolini, who returned 21 centimeters to his opponent, will face Russian Mirra Andreeva (38th) on Thursday for a place in the final.
Andreeva, 17, achieved the feat by eliminating visibly ill world No.2 Aryna Sabalenka 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-4, advancing to the semifinals for the first time of a Grand Slam.
The 17-year-old was revealed just a year ago. A semi-finalist last season, Belarusian Sabalenka appeared in great difficulty throughout the match, often complaining of stomach pains.
On Wednesday, helped, it is true, by the avalanche of direct errors committed by her placid opponent (48 in total against 22 for Paolini), the twirling Italian was able to display her broad smile.
Against all expectations, Paolini took the powerful Rybakina into play from the outset, whose service is one of the main weapons.
But this weapon was out of whack on Wednesday as Rybakina still had to defend two break points in her second service game, which she ended up winning.
And it was on the contrary Paolini (1.63 m) who showed herself to be sovereign in her serve, winning her first three service games (with an ace to boot) and only allowing one point to her opponent who, for her part, made a number of unforced errors (16 out of 49 points played in total in the first set, or a third).
In the second set, again, Paolini, very aggressive, quickly achieved the break (2-1). But this time, Rybakina immediately picked up (2-2).
New exchange of services from 3-3 to 4-4 as the game became tense. And Rybakina equalized at one set all by breaking in the final game of the set while Paolini’s success declined.
“At that point, we had to stay in the game and forget about that second inning. Then I remembered that she was a great champion and that it could happen,” commented Paolini.
And once again, it was she who started the decisive round best with a new break, immediately erased, then a second, erased again. The players thus remained neck and neck until 4-4. The Italian then took Rybakina’s challenge for the seventh time and concluded with her serve.
“It was the first time I played on this magnificent court (Philippe-Chatrier). It’s without a doubt one of the most beautiful in the world,” she said before returning to the locker room.