Barbora Krejcikova outlasted Jasmine Paolini Saturday to win the second Grand Slam singles title of her profession.
It took Krejcikova three match factors to beat a fierce comeback by Paolini, however she finally defeated the Italian tennis star 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 within the ladies’s Wimbledon remaining in London.
Moments after she received the celebrated title for the primary time, Krejcikova mentioned she hoped her victory on the All England Club made the late Jana Novotná proud.
“The solely factor that was going by my head,” Krejcikova mentioned of that second, “was that I miss Jana loads. It was simply very, very emotional. … I believe she can be proud.”
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Krejcikova grew up admiring Novotná, the 1998 Wimbledon champion. Novotná and Krejcikova are each natives of the Czech Republic. Novotná as soon as inspired Krejcikova to stay with tennis and predicted she would someday win a Grand Slam.
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Even after holding on to win on her third match level, Krejcikova insisted that no one — not her mates, not her household, not even herself — would imagine what she’s achieved. It was comparatively unlikely, in any case, provided that she handled a again harm and sickness this season and her document in 2024 was simply 7-9 when she arrived on the grass court docket main.
Barbora Krejcikova of Czechia celebrates successful match level in opposition to Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in a singles semifinal match at Wimbledon 2024 on the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club July 11, 2024, in London. (Francois Nel/Getty Images)
Krejcikova is the eighth girl to depart Wimbledon because the champion up to now eight editions of the occasion. Last yr’s champion, unseeded Marketa Vondrousova, can be from the Czech Republic. She misplaced within the first spherical final week.
Paolini, the runner-up to Iga Świątek on the French Open final month, is the primary girl since Serena Williams in 2016 to get to the finals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the identical season and the primary since Venus Williams in 2002 to lose each.
“If I hold this degree,” Paolini mentioned, “I believe I can have the prospect to do nice issues.”
Barbora Krejcikova, left, of the Czech Republic holds her trophy after defeating Jasmine Paolini, proper, of Italy within the ladies’s singles remaining on the Wimbledon tennis championships in London Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
This match was as back-and-forth as could possibly be.
Fittingly, the final sport took 14 factors to resolve, with Krejcikova needing to fend off a pair of break possibilities. She ultimately transformed her third match level when Paolini missed a backhand.
“I used to be simply telling myself to be courageous,” mentioned Krejcikova, who additionally owns seven Grand Slam titles in ladies’s doubles, together with two at Wimbledon, and three in combined doubles.
During the trophy ceremony, Krejcikova spoke about Novotná’s affect on her tennis life — and her life, usually — as she did following her singles triumph in Paris in 2021.
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A reporter requested Krejcikova what she’d prefer to say to Novotná now that they each are Wimbledon champions.
“Well, I believe I’d flip it round,” Krejcikova mentioned with a smile. “I wish to hear what she would inform me.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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