What a gem of a final. That’s me done. Thanks for your company. We will be back with the men’s final tomorrow then Sunday night there’s a football game you might’ve heard about. Bye!
Barbora Krejcikova speaks – she’s holding the Venus Rosewater Dish. “This is the best day of my life.” She’s very generous about Paolini and her remarkable rise. At the end when it got a little bit nuts? “I was just telling myself to be brave even if it got to 5-all. It’s such a great final and a great competition and I’m so happy to be enjoying this moment.” Asked about her countrywoman Martina Navratilova, who was there in the royal box watching. “I cannot believe it. Just two weeks ago I had a very tough first match winning 7-5 in the third set and I wasn’t in good shape before that injured and didn’t have a great beginning to the season now… it’s unbelievable! I’m a Wimbledon winner!”
She’s asked about the late Jana Novotna, how important she was to her. “It changed my life. Jana was the one who told me I had the potential, should turn pro. Before she passed away she told me to go away and win a slam. I achieved that in Paris and it was an unbelievable moment for me and I never dreamed that I would win the same trophy as Jana did in 1998.”
Asked what she’s planning on doing tonight? She hasn’t worked that out. I don’t suppose she had a full night on the tiles arranged before winning the thing, so that’s a quite reasonable answer.
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Jasmine Paolini speaks. Her smile is back, as it should be. I’d be shocked if we don’t see her in more finals. What a talent. “Hello everybody,” she begins. “You play such beautiful tennis Barbora. Congratulations to you and your team. The last two months have been crazy.” She thanks her family, team, and the SW19 crowd. A strange question follows confirming she’ll be back next year – I mean, as if she’s going to pull the pin at this point, having come from the clouds in 2024? Anyway. All very happy vibes.
And more than a word for Jasmine Paolini. Blown away in the final at Roland Garros, a few moments away from saluting at Wimbledon having never won a match on grass until this season. This story has a long way to run – she is the story of 2024.
One of the great, chaotic Wimbledon finals. Shifts of momentum, clutch shots, missed opportunities… wow. And a most worthy new champion – Barbora Krejcikova has a second slam; the second Czech woman in as many years to hold this trophy.
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Barbora Krejcikova wins the Wimbledon final 6-2, 2-6, 6-4!
The most important service game of Krejcikova’s professional career – serving for the tournament at Wimbledon. And what a great start, a strong serve, puts away the forehand. Another great serve up the middle but Paolini is equal to it, a rally sets off – but the Italian misses her backhand long! 30-0. Double fault! Into the net; long. 30-15. Paolini must pounce right this second. And does! After Krejcikova shows a bit of vulnerability with a wayward ball toss, Paolini is into the rhythm of the rally quicker and gets a backhand error for her efforts. And another! Break back point! The tension, the drama. Krejcikova now the player needing to settle and does with a serve, approach, backhand volley. Deuce. This Czech right-hander is made of tough stuff – thumping a second serve are missing her first, forcing the error. Championship point. And misses… goes for the quick kill with the backhand and is out by a couple of feet. This isn’t over. Paolini makes sure of it with some stunning rearguard work in the backcourt, getting back bullet after bullet before getting to the net and slamming home a winner! Another break back point. Oh good grief, what a shot that is – Krejcikova with the weight of the world on her shoulders slamming another crosscourt forehand winner. She’s saving her best in this game for the toughest moments. Back to deuce. Ace out wide! Championship point no2! And is ever so close but denied; Paolini’s backhand slice clears the net by a centremetre and makes it into the court by even less – it turns the point. Deuce No4. Paolini now into the net with an unforced error! Third championship point coming up. And she’s done it! A huge serve out wide, the Italian can’t get it back. What a stunning final!
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Third set: Paolini 4-5, 6-2, 2-6 Krejcikova * (*denotes next server)
Paolini serving to stay in the match and it’s her turn to race to 40-0f with a minimum of fuss – controlling the controllables. But what is trending towards an easy hold gets complicated when the Italian hits an easy forehand into the net. Krejcikova senses an opening and takes on a backhand – a clear winner! 40-30. Pressure back on Paolini, but she gets her serve into the chalk to hold.
Third set: * Paolini 3-5, 6-2, 2-6 Krejcikova (*denotes next server)
The all-important break consolidation. In her previous service game, Krejcikova clobbered the only two aces of the set – what she would give for another now. And there is one! 30-0. Make that 40-0 with an unplayable. And the easy hold down the middle! That’s a sensational service game under pressure. She is one game away from being the new Wimbledon champion.
Krejcikova breaks!
Third set: Paolini 3-4, 6-2, 2-6 Krejcikova * (*denotes next server)
Clever! Volley up at the net from Paolini to take it out to 30-15 – more going on in this game than those that came before it. Krejcikova forehand winner! Break point! Has to take it, has to take it… doesn’t take it. Misses long; Paolini roars. Deuce. But Paolini is now missing long, with her own forehand, to end a rally. Krejcikova gets a second break point – the only of the set. This is a huge moment. Fault called – challenged, upheld. Second serve misses long! Double fault! She’s broken in the seventh game.
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Third set: * Paolini 3-3, 6-2, 2-6 Krejcikova (*denotes next server)
24 minutes, zero pressure. Two aces for Krejcikova! Who falters?
Third set: Paolini 3-2, 6-2, 2-6 Krejcikova * (*denotes next server)
Every service game in this set has reached 30-0 in the blink of an eye. And this time, the hold is just as straightforward. Five holds to begin the decider, about three points won by the non-server.
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Third set: * Paolini 2-2, 6-2, 2-6 Krejcikova (*denotes next server)
Krejcikova takes a punt at 15-0 to close out a rally with a raking crosscourt forehand and hits the chalk! Paolini is trying to run her ragged but the opposite is playing out in practice; to 40-0 with a forced error. And serves it out. “Excellent hold,” notes McEnroe.
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Third set: Paolini 2-1, 5-2, 2-6 Krejcikova * (*denotes next server)
Out to 30-0 in the blink of an eye again – on Paolini’s terms. Krejcikova won the third set 6-4 when saluting in Paris in 2021, we’re told on the telly – she needs to draw down on that memory now. But the two points she takes off Paolini aren’t for nothing – at least she was able to make the Italian earn the game. On serve.
Third set: * Paolini 1-1, 6-2, 2-6 Krejcikova (*denotes next server)
Krejcikova’s turn for a 60-second hold. This is moving fast. At least her serve is back into good working order – vital now.
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Third set: Paolini 1-0, 6-2, 2-6 Krejcikova * (*denotes next server)
It’s difficult to believe we are watching the same match as the first set. Paolini, who was so lacking in confidence and so exposed on serve, isn’t missing a trick now – free points everywhere. “Clear, aggressive tennis.” Spot on, Ash Barty. She holds to love.
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“Hi Adam.” Hi Colum Fordham. “All eyes in Italy are on Jasmine Paolini and I have been consoling my Italian friends here in Naples, despondent about the men’s football team, that they should rejoice in the resurgence of Italian tennis, both men’s (Sinner and Musetti amongst others) and women’s. I was really impressed by Paolini’s return pass despite losing the game to Krejcikova. I hope and sense the match will go to the third set.”
She’s there now. Jumping into the serve of Krejcikova made all the difference. Right, they’re back on the court!
Krejcikova now does as Paolini did… bathroom break. Of course Three of the last four women’s finals at Wimbledon have made it to a third set, Tim Salathiel advises me. Before the pandemic, the seven previous finals were all wrapped up in two.
Paolini wins the second set 6-2!
Serving to stay in the set, Krejcikova gives her opponent a look at 15-30 following another shot that lacks control – a feature of her play throughout this wayward set. A drop shot is called good for Krejcikova but is overturned – wide! Two set points. Paolini only needs one – a crosscourt forehand misses wide. It’s one set all.
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Second set: Paolini 5-2, 2-6 Krejcikova * (*denotes next server)
Paolini has the crowd with her more with every winner, the Italian’s forehand now in terrific shape. Jumping out to 40-0, it takes a couple of game points but reaches 5-2 due to a miscued forehand from Krejcikova landing way long. She’s fired up too!
Second set: * Paolini 4-2, 2-6 Krejcikova (*denotes next server)
What a difference 20 minutes makes. Suddenly, it’s Krejcikova under all sorts of pressure on serve. But a player of her experience isn’t going to give this up the set without a fight, landing an ace down the middle to reach 40-15 to end a far more confident run of serves. But Paolini takes the serve out of the equation with her full-stretch return from way out wide, curling it around the net! But again it’s the No31 seed keeping it together, serving it out.
Second set: Paolini 4-1, 2-6 Krejcikova * (*denotes next server)
“Paolini is even walking with more confidence,” notes Ash Barty as she completes a gentle little smash to give her two game points at 40-15. A chance to end it in style comes with a short ball that sits up and she HAMMERS the forehand down the line. Clinical.
Second set: * Paolini 3-1, 2-6 Krejcikova (*denotes next server)
Krejcikova’s serving was immaculate in the first set. This time around? Broken in her opening service game followed by a double fault with the new balls. Ball toss all over the place too, catching consecutive throws. And another double! 0-30. What is going on here? She keeps it together, the serve-and-volley working. But working better still is Paolini’s cannon of a forehand – a crosscourt winner to die for! Two more break points. Now one, after missing long. Now zero – forehand into the net, unforced error, deuce. And again – this time forced; a better serve. From trouble at 15-40, Krejcikova holds for the first time in the set.
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Second set: Paolini 3-0, 2-6 Krejcikova * (*denotes next server)
“There has definitely been a change of intent,” says Barty of Paolini. “She is forcing herself to stay closer to the baseline and be more aggressive.” This begins as her most persuasive service game yet, reaching 40-15 with a delicate crosscourt slice forehand winner – a roar of “come on!” rings around. Oh, don’t speak so fast – it’s Krejcikova’s turn to hang in there and generate two consecutive errors, the second another attempted deft forehand. Deuce. And another forehand error – up at the net, ending a madcap rally where both players were darting around the court. Break back point. No! Sliced into the net. Deuce No2. Krejcikova is furious with the crowd at the end of the point that gives Paolini a game point; they’re told off for carrying on. But it doesn’t make a difference… the Italian serves it out! A harder hold than it looked.
Paolini breaks
Second set: *Paolini 2-0, 2-6 Krejcikova (*denotes next server)
At last some pressure on Krejcikova’s serve! 0-30 advances to 15-40 when the Italian hangs in there to prompt an unforced backhand error. Her first break point – two of them. And one is all she needs – another backhand error! From nowhere, the energy has shifted – the bathroom break does the trick.
Second set: Paolini 1-0, 2-6 Krejcikova * (*denotes next server)
Krejcikova miscues a ball that leaves SW19 to start the set. A great review follows to make it 30-30 when the Czech veteran (probably a tad unfair to call her that at 28) reckons a ball is long – tech confirms it. But Paolini forces an error at 40-30 on the forehand side to win the game – she gives it big to try and fire up the crowd, who she believes will be with her if she can start smiling again.
The stats that matter most from that first set.
Krejcikova landed 90% of her first serves (!), going on to win 84% of those points. She’s also won all five points when coming to the net. All up, she won 33 points to Paolini’s 20.
Krejcikova wins the first set 6-2
Krejvikova just isn’t missing first serves! A clinical game to secure the set, won to love as Paolini nets a forehand. It prompts the predictable bathroom break as the Italian leaves the court.
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First set: Paolini 2-5 Krejcikova * (*denotes next server)
Serving to stay in the set, Paolini cranks out the first ace of the match. But fast forward three points and another error on the backhand side from the Italian, this time a volley at the net, gives Krejcikova a look at a third break at 30-all. The Italian holds her nerve, winning a forehand error from a swinging serve out wide followed by an unforced error trying to end a rally with aggression. When they change ends, Krejcikova serves for the set.
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First set: * Paolini 1-5 Krejcikova (*denotes next server)
Beautiful tennis from Krejcikova, nailing two big serves then a stunning backhand winner down the line; 40-0. She tries to wrap up the game with a lavish backhand, missing wide, but doesn’t make two mistakes in a row – a thumping forehand winner makes it 5-1. Paolini sends it upstairs but there’s plenty of chalk on it.
Krejcikova breaks again!
First set: Paolini 1-4 Krejcikova * (*denotes next server) Paolini is in the hole for a third service game on the trot, beaten into errors on both sides. But she gets it back to 30-30 when Krejcikova misses her forehand. We’re upstairs to technology for the first time in the match but Paolini’s forehand is wide. To a break point again and the opportunity it taken, Paolini committing an unforced error on the backhand side, into the net. Double break!
First set: * Paolini 1-3 Krejcikova (*denotes next server) Krejcikova extends her run to six perfect serves and six easy points before Paolini finally gets one back, leading to a smash for 30-15. Something to build on. She then gets a look at a second serve and goes after it with ferocity on the backhand side but misses long. A couple of game points. The first is denied, Paolini finally getting her range with a backhand winner down the line at the end of a long and taxing rally – great tennis. And from there, an error from Krejcikova – into the net with her forehand. We’re at deuce. The rally of the match follows, drop shots and lobs and chaos before a crosscourt forehand winner from the Czech! The Wimbledon audience loves it, giving a huge ovation. And this time she closes it out, re-locating her big first serve. Tough hold.
“The Royal Box today is filled with women’s champions from years ending in 4,” Tim Salathiel tells me. “Maria Sharapova (2004), Conchita Martinez (1994) and Martina Navratilova (1984) are all there today. Only one missing - from what I can see - is Petra Kvitova (2014) - but she has a good excuse, having given birth to her first child, a son named Petr, on July 7 during the Championships.”
First set: Paolini 1-2 Krejcikova * (*denotes next server)
Paolini has Krejcikova running around but a well-timed/placed slice backhand buys her time and opens up a forehand winner. A forehand into the net from Paolini gets in the holds again at 0-30. She regroups with a couple of huge forehands – her major weapon unleashed for the first time. And again to make it 40-30, not giving Krejcikova a chance to get them back when on song. Nevertheless, it’s deuce when the Czech slams her backhand deep into the corner, it isn’t recovered. Another long backhand follows from the Italian early in a point – not a good habit to be forming. A deft backhand does the trick to get it back to deuce and smashes to advantage, but she’s caught out on the backhand side once more. Opening up a chance to double break, Krejcikova gets into a rally but just sticks her forehand long – inches away. Paolini forces a backhand error to finally get a game point and this time makes it count with a big serve down the middle. A lengthy hold… relief!
First set: * Paolini 0-2 Krejcikova (*denotes next server)
Four big first serves, four easy points – a straightforward break consolidation for the Czech! Have that. Paolini under the pump.
Krejcikova breaks in the first game of the match
First set: Paolini 0-1 Krejcikova * (*denotes next server)
Paolini takes a long time to serve then misses her backhand long after an eight-shot rally; nervous energy. Krejcikova gives a point back when missing a backhand of her own after getting into a rally on the forehand side. A long forehand from the Italian makes it 15-30 and a long backhand volley – the first approach to the net – 15-40. Two break points in the opening game. And Krejcikova nails it with a powerful crosscourt forehand winner! Bang!
And we’re away! Paolini to serve. The final begins.
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Jasmine Paolini has won the toss. She elects to serve. They hit up.
“You want the memories of the day to be positive,” says Ash Barty. This is in reference to the nerves players feel as they prepare to make the short walk down the stairs to centre court, a journey they make now. Barty’s point: you have to surrender to this and understand that this is not just another day – it isn’t.
Another quirky one. No matter what happens, we’ll have our seventh consecutive new women’s champ. The last time an existing winner lifted this trophy was Serena Williams in 2016!
“I just love the bubbly energy that Paolini has,” writes Denis O’Brien. “She’s such a fun presence and I’d like her to win!”
Ash Barty is with you. The Australian superstar, and champion in this event three years ago (feels like it was yesterday), refers to her smile and joy on telly. “There’s almost an innocence to her.”
Krejcikova’s path to the final was a trickier one. Where Paolini didn’t play anyone ranked above her, the 31st seed knocked out three players ranked above her: Danielle Collins (no11 seed), Jelena Ostapenko (13th) and Rybakina (4th) – the clear favourite to go on to win it all once the draw was reduced to four.
After losing the first set 6-3 to Rybakina, she won the next two 6-3 and 6-4. She did it with all angles, slice and so much backhand. This final is set up so well with players of such contrasting styles.
Jasmine Paolini is on a roll. She’s just the fourth woman to reach the final at the French and Wimbledon in the same year since the turn of the century – the others are Justine Henin, Serena Williams and Venus Williams. The last was Serena (of course) in 2016. From there to the semis at Eastbourne into what she’s achieved over the last fortnight. Sure, there was a bit of luck when Madison Keys had to pull out in their fourth-round clash at 5-5 in the third, but you’ve got to make the most of that and she has.
Her previous match evolved into an epic on Thursday. Up against the unseeded Donna Vekic, down a break in the deciding third set (and a match point) Paolini rode it out, broke back, got to the tie break and eventually won it 10-8. Nearly three hours later, it was the longest women’s Wimbledon semi-final ever played.
Standing at just 5’4”, she loads up her forehand with plenty of topspin and is rapid across the court when under pressure.
A lot of love for the late Jana Novotná. The singles champion here in 1998 (and four-time doubles winner) was Krejcikova’s coach and mentor until she passed away from cancer at age 49 in 2017.
“Couple of years ago I was working with Jana Novotna, she won it here in 1998. At that point she was telling me a lot of stories about her journeys here and how she was trying to win Wimbledon. I was so far [away] when we had this talk and now I’m here and wow, I’m in the final,” said Krejcikova, pausing to gather herself.
“I have so many beautiful memories and when I step on the court here I’m just fighting for every single ball because I’m sure that’s what she would want me to do. I miss her so much.”
Nice stuff on BBC. Their coverage opens up with two Wimbledon: Billie Jean King (six singles wins) and Martina Navratilova (nine!). And they’re actually talking doubles – how it can help the best in the world stay sharp and focused – in the context of Krejcikova’s journey. Navratilova is old-school: “If you’re not fit enough to play doubles as well, you aren’t fit enough to win singles.” And King adds that when she beat Chris Evert in the 1973 final, she was more excited about winning the doubles! And did. Love it.
Here’s a longer preview from SW19, via Tumaini Carayol.
Preamble
The wonderful world of modern women’s Grand Slam tennis throws up yet another improbable final. In the Czech corner, Barbora Krejcikova. Until deep into her fine career, she was a doubles whiz winning everything going with Katerina Siniakova. But in 2021, that all changed with a barnstorming triumph at Roland Garros. Despite reaching the No2 rank in 2022, until this week the Jana Novotna protege hadn’t made it beyond the quarters of another slam. But holding her nerve to oust No4 seed Elena Rybakina in the semi in a come-from-behind effort, Krejcikova has a prized opportunity to lift another big trophy.
And from Italy, it is the no7 seed Jasmine Paolini. What a 2024 she has enjoyed – the 28-year-old only made it beyond the second round of a major for the first time at Melbourne in January. From there, her run has included the French final (swept away in straight sets by Iga Świątek) now getting to the decider today on grass – a surface she had never won a main-draw match on until this year, thrice bundled out in the opening round at SW19. If the pocket rocket salutes here it would be one of the great tales.
So, there we have it. Oh, the only time these two have met? That was at the 2018 Australian Open qualifying event! How far they have both come. A fun afternoon awaits! Play begins 2pm.
You can talk to me throughout in the usual way. I’m also still active on the worst website in the world (don’t ask me why, but I’ll never leave) if that’s more your style.
Finals day feels 😄#Wimbledon | @JasminePaolini | @BKrejcikova pic.twitter.com/fYUIAYUXjq
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2024
