Paolini falls short, but still dares to dream big

LONDON — If the power of a 1000-watt smile can play a role in deciding Grand Slam titles, then Italian Jasmine Paolini will surely manage to bag one before she hangs up her rackets.

The diminutive 28-year-old from Tuscany charmed Wimbledon's Centre Court crowd during Saturday's women's final, just as she did throughout a memorable two weeks on the lawns.

Unfortunately for her, and her hopes of becoming Italy's first Wimbledon singles champion, she fell just short, despite a sparkling fightback, eventually succumbing 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 to fellow 28-year-old Barbora Krejcikova.

Depending on whether she is a glass half full or half empty kind of person — and she is surely the former — the last couple of months can only be looked on positively, despite falling at the final hurdle in successive Grand Slams.

By beating Croatia's Donna Vekic on Thursday, she became the first Italian woman to reach the Wimbledon singles final, and joined an elite band of women in the professional era to contest both the title match at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same season.

Serena Williams, Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Billie Jean King, Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong landed both titles. Venus Williams lost both finals in 2002, while Justine Henin and Hana Mandlikova are among those who won the French Open but lost at Wimbledon.

Considering Paolini had managed a mere three Roland Garros match wins in her slow-burning career before this year's French Open, and none at Wimbledon before her unexpected run in the past two weeks — her achievement is truly remarkable.

And, while she remains without a Grand Slam title, she has gained thousands of new fans, drawn to the sheer joy, passion and fun she takes with her onto court.

While that will be some consolation to Paolini as she digests Saturday's near miss, she clearly does not want to be remembered as the bridesmaid to, first, world No 1 Iga Swiatek, and now to Krejcikova.

"Sometimes, I'm a little bit scared to dream too much. I have to say that," Paolini told reporters. "I'm going back, try to practice, to stay in the present.

"This is the goal for me and my team, to try to keep this level as much as possible.

"If I keep this level, I think I have the chance to do great things.

"Today I was dreaming of holding the trophy, but it didn't work out.

"I'm sure I'm going to do it, but today it's tough to speak, because I was close, but not close enough."

Paolini, who was seventh seed at Wimbledon, has climbed to No 5 in the WTA rankings on Monday.

REUTERS