It’s fair to say Jasmine Paolini is a later bloomer.

“There are certain types of plants that you water, give them sunlight and they take years to bloom,” Tathiana Garbin, Italy’s Billie Jean King Cup captain, told wimbledon.com.

“Below the surface they are growing the roots. You don’t see it, but they are working on it on the inside.”

Garbin knows Paolini better than most. She knows exactly how hard Paolini has worked for her career to develop from seedling to vibrant flower.

“You have to have the patience to push yourself every day to do the same things, for years. The great champions cover it all, they do the things that other people don’t want to do. She built her game by building her patience.

“Tennis is the best teacher you can have. You learn a lot every day. You never lose, you just learn.”

The world No.7, runner-up at Roland-Garros a month ago, hasn’t been despondent since missing out in Paris. Instead, she’s bounced back with positive, free-flowing, all-court tennis.

Paolini secured her final spot in a two hour, 51-minute blockbuster with Donna Vekic (main picture). The 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(8) victory was the longest ladies’ singles semi-final in Wimbledon history and Garbin was most impressed by the way Paolini found a route back.

“Actually it was very emotional,” said the former world No.22. “I like that we saw her personality: even though she was in trouble in the first set, she was smiling. That’s amazing in the semi-final of a Grand Slam. That’s what makes Jasmine so special, she takes this all in her stride. She really plays tennis, playing not working.

“It’s very important for the juniors to see how to behave on the court. She’s a really good role model.”

When Garbin first encountered Paolini she was 15. Not the standout star, those roots were just getting set.

“She was not the best Italian in that moment, she was No.8, No.9. You’d want the juniors winning, being the best all the time, but that’s not always the way. Jasmine, is a very important lesson for everybody, you have to keep working every day.

“She’s always been highly competitive, but in a soft way. When she wants something she really goes for it, that’s her power.”

Now 28, she is the first woman since Serena Williams (2016) to make back-to-back finals in Paris then at SW19. In the modern game dominated by power play, 5ft 4in pocket rocket Paolini has been transformed into a major contender this year with tactical nous and a shift in her mental approach.

“What I like most is how she has improved so much at the net,” added Garbin, highlighting Paolini’s 104 points won out of 145 attempts at The Championships.

“In that position she’s playing very difficult volleys. The doubles has helped a lot, in her positioning, tactically, this is where she’s improved the most.

“What she has achieved is unbelievable. It’s very rare, because its so difficult to play so well on clay and then come here and play so well. She’s very versatile. It mean’s her technical side is very strong, also in the last year or so, ever since she started working with our BJK Cup trainer Andrea Bracaglia, her physical side is ever improving.

“Something changed in her mindset too, she believed more in what she’s doing. I like to see the long process of this. You grow up, my mantra is ‘step by step'. She’s taken her time to build her personality and her tennis.”

On Saturday, Garbin, 47, will be in the players’ box once again, hoping to witness another historic triumph for Italian tennis. Paolini must overcome Barbora Krejcikova first.

“It’s a very tough match. We know she’s already won Roland-Garros (2021),” added Garbin. “She has the ability to play very softly up the court, she’s a big fighter. Jasmine has to play without thinking too much. On this surface you have to play with your instincts.”

Just like world No.1 Jannik Sinner’s maiden Grand Slam glory in January, Paolini has the chance to focus the spotlight on Italian tennis once again. The sustained support from coaches, to tournaments, to juniors all the way up, is providing the structure to succeed.

“It would be another huge thing, a dream again. We work every day, but we never assume this is possible. Sometimes dreams do come true,” said Garbin. “You have to believe and you have to do the right things. They aren’t just great champions, they’re great people.”