Barbora Krejcikova holds off Jasmine Paolini to win Wimbledon title
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The Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova celebrating after beating Italy's Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 in the Wimbledon women's singles final on July 13.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON – Barbora Krejcikova held off Italian crowd favourite Jasmine Paolini on the “best day of her life” to win the Wimbledon singles title on July 13, coming through 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 on a sunlit Centre Court.
The Czech doubles specialist had dominated the opening set with a near-perfect display but was then rocked by a dazzling Paolini fightback which sent the showpiece into a decider.
A nervous third set swung Krejcikova’s way when she broke serve at 3-3 and she went on to complete victory on her third match point, adding the Wimbledon title to the French Open crown she captured in 2021.
It capped a roller-coaster season for the Czech, who went winless on the WTA tour from February until June because of a back injury and illness.
Said the 28-year-old: “It’s just unbelievable, it’s definitely the best day of my tennis career and also the best day of my life...
“I think nobody believes it that I got to the final and nobody believes that I won Wimbledon. I still can’t believe it.
“Two weeks ago I had a very tough match, and I wasn’t in good shape before that because I was injured and ill. I didn’t really have a good beginning to the season. It’s unbelievable I’m stood here now and I’ve won Wimbledon. I have no idea (how it happened).”
Retired three-time Slam champion Ashleigh Barty added on the BBC: “Krejcikova did an amazing job to stick to her plan and keep serving big. It was the sign of a champion to stick to her guns and her process.”
It was heartache for the popular Paolini who lost the French Open final in June and was bidding to become the first Italian player to win a Wimbledon singles title.
Krejcikova, who also owns 10 doubles Grand Slam titles, including two at Wimbledon, and an Olympic gold, is the latest in a long line of Czechs to win the singles at Wimbledon, following Marketa Vondrousova’s triumph in 2023.
Her win comes 26 years after her mentor and fellow Czech Jana Novotna, who died of cancer in 2017, claimed the Wimbledon title.
Said Krejcikova: “I think that day, knocking on her door, it changed my life. Because in that period when I finished the juniors, I didn’t know what to do – should I continue playing pro or go into education? She was the one who told me I had the potential and I should definitely turn pro.
“Before she passed away, she told me to go and win a Slam. I did that in Paris in 2021 but I never dreamed of winning the same trophy that Jana did.”
Krejcikova began the match in confident fashion, striking the ball sweetly on her way to a break of serve in the first game before holding for a 2-0 lead.
She was soon on the hunt for a double break but Paolini weathered some fierce ball-striking in her next service game to get herself on the scoreboard.
The Centre Court crowd came alive in the fourth game as Paolini showed unbelievable court coverage to stay in the point but to no avail as Krejcikova held for 3-1.
Paolini was talking to herself between points, trying to psych herself up in the face of a Krejcikova onslaught but another dropped service game left her reeling.
Dominating the baseline exchanges with her extra power, Krejcikova pouched the opener in 35 minutes and Paolini disappeared off court, presumably for a deep breath.
The Italian returned with fire in her belly and immediately the momentum shifted as she seized on the first Krejcikova dip to move into a 3-0 lead with some fluent winners.
Suddenly it was Krejcikova who looked tight with consecutive double faults adding more fuel to the Paolini fire but the Czech steadied down to avoid slipping 4-0 behind.
It was all Paolini though in the second set as she rode a wave of fervent crowd support to take the final to a decider.
The momentum looked to be with Paolini but she wavered at 3-3 in the decider with a double fault handing over a break of serve. Krejcikova was rock-solid on serve as the title inched closer but looked consumed by nerves at 5-4.
Two match points came and went but she finally got the job done at the third attempt.
Said Paolini: “The last two months have been crazy for me... Today I am a little bit sad. I try to keep smiling because I have to remember today is still a good day, I made the final of Wimbledon.
“I remember as a kid watching the final and cheering for (Roger) Federer I have to say. It’s been a beautiful two weeks.” REUTERS, AFP
