Schmiedlova, the real surprise of the Olympic Games: "I can't believe it, it's already the best result of my career".

Anna Karolina Schmiedlova is the sensation of the 2024 Olympic Games. At the age of 29, the Slovakian, currently ranked 67th in the world (she was 26th in 2015-2016), is playing the best tennis of her career and has so far had the tournament of her life on Paris clay.

Long considered one of the great hopefuls of world tennis, she has never really confirmed her status as a top player. After breaking into the Top 100 at the age of 18 in 2013, she approached the Top 20 at 21 in 2015 (ranked 26th in the world), but never managed to go any higher. Hampered by injuries and diminished confidence, she hasn't been in the WTA Top 50 since July 2016.

Then the Olympic magic happened. She first thwarted the predictions against Katie Boulter (world no. 34) and Beatriz Haddad Maia (world no. 22) in the first two rounds, before pulling off two genuine feats. In the Round of 16, she beat world no. 5 Jasmine Paolini, a recent finalist at Roland Garros and Wimbledon (7-5, 3-6, 7-5). And in the quarters, she ousted world No.10 Barbora Krejcikova, winner of the last Wimbledon (6-4, 6-2).

Enough for her to consider the Olympics the best tournament of her career. But she has no intention of stopping there. She takes on Croatia's Donna Vekic, ranked 21st in the world, this Thursday in the semi-finals.

Anna Karolina Schmiedlova: "It's already the best result of my career. To be in the semi-finals, among the top four players, is incredible.

I'm going to do my best. I've still got two matches to go. I don't want to think about it too much because (this approach to the event) has helped me so far, so I hope I'll play some good tennis.

I still can't believe I'm in the semi-finals. The four best players in the world. I'm playing the best tennis of my life at the Olympics, for my country and for the people around me. It's a great event. It's fantastic for me.

In my country, there aren't many athletes. In tennis too, it's rare to reach the semi-finals at the Olympic Games. I have the impression that people at home follow this more than normal tournaments. I've never received so many messages and so much support. It's great for me."