Paolini booked her spot in the final by triumphing in the longest women’s semi-final ever to take place at Wimbledon. She rallied back from a set down, and trailed by a break twice in the decider, before she overcame Donna Vekic in a two-hour 51-minute tug of war.
The 28-year-old Italian is the first woman since Serena Williams in 2016 to reach the finals of both Roland-Garros and Wimbledon in the same season.
First round: Defeated Sara Sorribes Tormo 7-5, 6-3 in 1hr 37min
Second round: Defeated Greet Minnen 7-6(5), 6-2 in 1hr 32min
Third round: Defeated Bianca Andreescu 7-6(4), 6-1 in 1hr 31min
Fourth round: Defeated Madison Keys 6-3, 6-7(6), 5-5 ret. in 2hr 23min
Quarter-finals: Defeated Emma Navarro 6-2, 6-1 in 57 minutes
Semi-finals: Defeated Donna Vekic 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(8) in 2hr 51min
Total time on court: 10hr 51min