Barbora Krejcikova overcomes Jasmine Paolini to win her first Wimbledon championship.

13/7/2024,

The Czech wins 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 to win the first singles championship in SW19.
The see-saw match was decided by a pivotal break in the Epic final set. Barbora Krejcikova only triumphed in two singles matches in the five months that between the end of the Australian Open and the start of Wimbledon.

It seemed as though she had no escape from a dreadful circle of injuries, illnesses, and ill health. Still getting acclimated to her new surroundings, she wasn't expecting much from Wimbledon. But in tennis, things can shift quickly.


A player's game may go so smoothly after a few big victories that it seems like nothing went wrong at all.

Krejcikova was ready for her first Wimbledon final, having gone through the entire process over the last two weeks.


•At first glance, the Saturday final between the two Wimbledon underdogs looked like a one-sided romp, but it turned out to be a close, intense, and magnificent struggle.


In the end, 31st seed Krejcikova prevailed 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, holding off a strong challenge from seventh seed Jasmine Paolini.

This was Krejcikova's first-ever Wimbledon singles championship victory.


• Three years after her incredible run to the Roland Garros triumph in 2021, Krejcikova has won her second grand slam singles title. Her overall grand slam trophy collection is unmatched by many current tennis players, male or female, as she has already produced one of the greatest doubles resumes of this generation: Krejcikova has three Wimbledon titles and twelve major slam victories as of current now. One of the most notable aspects of Krejcikova's path to the final match was the way she defeated three of the strongest ball strikers in short succession: Danielle Collins, Jelena Ostapenko, and Elena Rybakina.


Krejcikova understood she had to control the game this time since she was the bigger, stronger player with heavier shots and a superior serve.

• Krejcikova has won her second grand slam singles title, three years after her stunning run to the Roland Garros title in 2021.

Her overall grand slam trophy collection is unmatched by many current tennis players, male or female, as she has already produced one of the greatest doubles resumes of this generation: Krejcikova has three Wimbledon titles and twelve major slam victories as of current now. One of the most notable aspects of Krejcikova's path to the final match was the way she defeated three of the strongest ball strikers in short succession: Danielle Collins, Jelena Ostapenko, and Elena Rybakina.



Krejcikova understood she had to control the game this time since she was the bigger, stronger player with heavier shots and a superior serve.

• Trying desperately to stop Krejcikova's momentum, Paolini realised that the set was already slipping away from her. She made a concerted effort to take the initiative early in the game and mixed in drop shots and aggressive forehand angles. Krejcikova showed off her incredible hand abilities every time she was under duress, skidding defensive slices to reset numerous exchanges before climbing back to the top.

• The Centre Court audience fervently supported Paolini throughout the second set as she started it determined to put Krejcikova under strain after stopping for a loo break in between sets. She increased the speed of both of her groundstrokes, looked for additional depth, and started focusing only on her forehand.

Nervous mistakes started to come off Krejcikova's racket as Paolini surged to a 3-0 lead, hammering forehands and showing no signs of relenting. The momentum quickly changed.

•Paolini did not give up her momentum at the start of the last set. She completely destroyed a forehand to start the third set, then rolled through her opening service game to keep her opponent under strain while persistently focusing on her unsteady backhand. Even though Krejcikova was still hesitant with her groundstrokes, she served incredibly effectively in the beginning and gained confidence by cruising through her service games.


•With both players performing at a high level at the same time, Krejcikova had enough confidence restored to capitalise on Paolini's unsatisfactory serve at 3-3. She finally regained control in the neutral rallies, seizing the lead and dominating with her forehand once more. Paolini would fight to the death, and Krejcikova would fight her fears, but there would be one last amazing game before the amazing match ended. With a stunning win nearly two hours later, Krejcikova completed the deal.


• For Krejcikova, this is undoubtedly a heartfelt full-circle moment. In 2014, hundreds of ranking places away from even trying to compete at Wimbledon, she called on the door of 1998 Wimbledon singles winner Jana Novotna, hoping to get some advice from the local icon.

• Novotna decided right away to go and work with her, mentoring her right up to her passing in November 2017. This led to a friendship that would endure a lifetime. 26 years after Novotna's eventual victory, Krejcikova became the most recent Czech player to have her name inscribed on the Venus Rosewater Dish with her third Wimbledon final victory.