Wimbledon women's semis live up to premise of treating triumph and disaster just the same

WIMBLEDON—Centre Court, where history is made. Centre Court, where a tennis player’s soul reveals itself, one strand at a time. Centre Court, where above its doorway are the words, “If you can meet with triumph and disaster, and treat those two imposters just the same.”

The two women’s semis played today lived up to all of those premises, but in strikingly different ways. The first semifinal, won by the swiftly ascending Jasmine Paolini over veteran Donna Vekic in a third-set tiebreaker, offered a wide spectrum of emotions. The second, crafty Barbora Krejcikova’s three-set victory versus the powerful Elena Rybakina, pitted two players as cucumber-cool as they come, each of these one-time Grand Slam singles champions keenly dialed-in on pure and often brilliant ball-striking. From dramatic art to crisp business, much was revealed today about the eternal nature-nurture blend that makes tennis such a compelling display of personality.

Before regarding Paolini as victor, spare a few moments for the vanquished Vekic. Though currently ranked 30 spots behind No. seven Paolini, Vekic was the one with far more Grand Slam experience—87 singles matches at the majors compared to 36 for Paolini. As the match got underway, Vekic’s power also appeared the difference-maker, her flat drives repeatedly compromising Paolini. In 35 minutes, Vekic captured the opener, 6-2. Throughout the second set, Vekic appeared on the verge of grabbing the decisive lead. Three times, Vekic held break point, but was unable to convert any of them. More tellingly, as she failed to seize hold of the match, Vekic became increasingly anguished and negative with her body language and demeanor. It was reminiscent of the way Simona Halep often berated herself.

Most of all, though, it was Paolini’s competitive temperament that made the difference. While Vekic brooded, Paolini remained sunny and positive. “I'm trying, as I said, to live the present and to enjoy what I'm doing and don't forget where I am,” she said. “I think it's a really privileged position, and I have to keep that in focus, you know?”

Paolini won the second set 6-4, and remained optimistic even when she went down 3-1 in third, failed to convert on two match points, and faced a 3-1 deficit in the concluding tiebreaker. All match long, Paolini evoked Halep’s plucky aspects: the tenacious, first-rate mover who can strike big when the situation calls for it. “I think I can hit the ball really, really strong,” said Paolini. “But also moving for me, it's important. I have to repeat it. I can defend, as well.”

Played on one of the rare all-sunny days of this year’s Wimbledon, this first semi thoroughly enthralled the crowd. Centre Court is devoid of video screens that replay points, excessive sponsor logos, music on changeovers, or corporate suites. There is nothing to pay attention to other than the tennis. That mix of austerity and tradition is also present when the players walk on to the court and are greeted by the crowd, the competitors at once gladiators and performers. Once upon a time, the circle closed when they left the court together amid mutual applause for the sporting endeavor the two artists-warriors had composed and completed. Though that’s understandably given way to post-match interviews with the winner, as Vekic gathered her belongings in sheer solitude following an extremely agonizing defeat, I found myself wishing that shared exit remained a part of Wimbledon. “I thought I was going to die in the third set,” said Vekic. “I had so much pain in my arm, in my leg. It was not easy out there, but I will recover.”

While emotion was drastically less prevalent in the second semi, there was no scarcity of skill. My thinking prior was that Rybakina’s big serve and hard, flat drives would smother Krejcikova. But perhaps the turning point of this match came in the opening set. Rybakina sprinted to a 4-0 lead. Krejcikova may not display too much emotion, but there is a certain grit she has, a faith arguably bolstered by the wide array of shots she’s built as a fantastic doubles player; if one tool doesn’t work, then find another. “I felt that I had to maybe put a little bit more pressure on her just to change it,” said Krejcikova. “Yeah, I was just looking first for some options.”

Krejcikova clawed her way into the first set, and though she eventually lost it, 6-3, it was clear by then that Rybakina had little chance of steamrolling her way through this match as can often happen. Following that slow start, Krejcikova soon enough matched Rybakina in the power department and also emerged as the far better mover, taking the last two sets, 6-3, 6-4. “I think physically a little bit I also dropped in some important moments,” said Rybakina. “I should have stayed maybe more aggressive and with a little bit better footwork.”

As a connoisseur of styles, spins, and tactics, I’ve always found Krejcikova’s game compelling. But it’s also been baffling to see her wilt away in many a singles match, particularly at the majors. Things haven’t been helped in 2024 by a back injury suffered in February that kept Krejcikova off the tour for two months.

This year’s Wimbledon marks the first time Krejcikova has been to the semis of a major since her surprise 2021 title run at Roland Garros. When I asked her what she’d done to get better since then, Krejcikova told me, “Well, I feel I had to improve everything. I think I definitely got better on faster surfaces. I feel like I had to develop my game because everybody else is developing their game, too. I mean, it's great that it looks like I made some progress, that I'm in another final.”

Krejcikova's tournament began with a 7-6 (4), 6-7 (1), 7-5 victory over the mercurial Veronika Kudermetova. Her last three wins have come versus three of the hardest hitters in the game—Danielle Collins, Jelena Ostapenko, and tonight, Rybakina.

Krejcikova beat Paolini the only time these two have played one another. But that victory came more than six years ago, in the first round of the qualifying event at the 2018 Australian Open, when both were ranked outside the zhop 100. “To be honest,” said Krejcikova, “I don't remember the match.” Call it ancient history. Come Saturday, the two will make contemporary history.

If the poise each showed today is any indication, Krejcikova and Paolini appear on track to treat triumph and disaster just the same.