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Jasmine Paolini lost to Barbora Krejcikova in the Wimbledon final (AP)
Jasmine Paolini, who was seventh seed at Wimbledon, will rise to number five in the WTA rankings despite losing in the women’s singles final.
Jasmine Paolini said she was “scared to dream too much” after the bitter disappointment of losing the Wimbledon final to Barbora Krejcikova — weeks after she lost the title match at the French Open.
The seventh-ranked Italian recovered from a shaky start to level against her Czech opponent but ended up sinking to a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 defeat on Centre Court.
At Roland Garros last month she lost the final to world number one Iga Swiatek, winning just three games.
Paolini is the first woman since Serena Williams in 2016 to get to the finals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same season — and the first since Venus Williams in 2002 to lose both.
Despite the disappointments, it has been a remarkable rise for Paolini, the first Italian woman to reach a Wimbledon singles final.
The 28-year-old had never been beyond the second round of a Grand Slam before reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open earlier this year.
In the new rankings next week she will be number five in the world even though she ended last season down in 30th spot.
ALSO READ | Barbora Krejcikova Beats Jasmine Paolini To Win Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Title
Paolini said she was still aiming at “great things” despite her painful losses in Paris and London.
“Sometimes I’m a little bit scared to dream too much,” she said. “I have to say that. I don’t know.
“I’m going back, trying to practise, to stay in the present, as I said many times. This is the goal for me, my team, to try to keep this level as much as possible.
“If I keep this level, I think I can have the chance to do great things.”
She described her feelings as bittersweet.
“Today I was dreaming to hold the trophy, but it didn’t go well,” she said. “I’m just enjoying the position where I am right now, five in the world. It’s unbelievable, honestly.
“I just did two finals in two Grand Slams. I have to be also happy with the results. Also a little bit disappointed.”
(With inputs from Agencies)
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