Barbora Krejcikova Returns To Wimbledon Final, Meets Jasmine Paolini From Italy

Barbora Krejcikova returns to the women's singles Grand Slam Slam Wimbledon final after three years. (photo: x @wimbledon)

JAKARTA - Barbora Krejcikova returns to the single Grand Slam final after three years. He made an impressive comeback at Wimbledon on Thursday 11 July, which will bring him together with Jasmine Paolini. The Italian also continues to make new history at the All England Club.

Despite having had a lot of success in doubles, Krejcikova entered the match against 2022 champion Elena Rybakina as the lower seed, but she remained calm. After a slow start, he finally won against the Kazakhstan player to win 3-6 6-3 6-4.

The seventh seed Paolini previously became the first Italian woman to reach the final after beating Croatia's Donna Vekic 2-6 6-4 7-6(8) in a thrilling match, continuing an extraordinary year after becoming runner-up in France Open last month.

This result ensures that there will be different female champions in the main grass court tournament for the eighth year in a row and the first winner.

Former French Open champion Krejcikova also joined the elite group as the seventh Czech-born woman to reach the Wimbledon final in the professional era which began in 1968.

He imitated Hana Mandlikova, Martina Navitratilova, Petra Kvitova, Karolina Pliskova, Marketa Vondrousova, as well as her mentor and idol, Jana Novotna.

"A few years ago I worked with Jana... She told many stories about her journey here and how she tried to win Wimbledon," said emotional Krejcikova as he recalled Novotna, the 1998 champion, who died seven years ago.

"I was very far away when we talked about this. Now I'm here and I'm in the final. I remember thinking about him a lot. I have a lot of beautiful memories. When I step onto the pitch, I fight for every ball because that's what he wants me to do," said Krejcikova.

MATCH RECORD

Paolini's victory made her the first Italian woman and since Serena Williams in 2016 to reach the final at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year.

"Two consecutive Grand Slam finals are crazy to believe, I think, right? I'm also surprised... I'm going through this," said Paolini, who has never won a grass court tour before this year.

"I feel maybe next Saturday I'll be very nervous, I don't know. But I also feel relaxed. I'm the same person, doing the same thing. I'm a little surprised how I manage this. I don't want to say much more because maybe Saturday I'll be shaking," he said.

The 28-year-old wavered at the start of the game but advanced in two hours and 51 minutes. It became the longest female semifinal partai at Wimbledon. While Vekic bravely played through pain and cried at some point before finally losing.

"I thought I was going to die in the third set," said Vekic, who struggled to hold back tears at his press conference. "I experienced so much pain in my arm, on my feet. It wasn't easy out there, but I will recover."

"My tears are not because of me... I don't know. I cry because I experience so much pain, I don't know how I can keep playing," he said.

Turning to the men's semifinals on Friday, July 12, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz will face fifth seed from Russia Daniil Medvedev in a repeat of their semifinal match last year.

Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic then continued his efforts to win his 25th Grand Slam title to break the record when he met Lorenzo Musetti from Italy, in another semi-final.