Barbora Krejcikova won a three-set thriller over Jasmine Paolini to win the Wimbledon final on Saturday 6-2 2-6 6-4.
This was a game of spectacular tennis and two well-timed bathroom breaks that switched the ebb and flow of this match. It was a shame there had to be a loser and it was the Czech star that got over the line.
"I don't have any words right now," said an elated Krejcikova during her interview with the BBC. "It's just unbelievable. It's the best day of my tennis career and the best day of my life. I would like to congratulate Jasmine. It was a great final. It's been amazing what she's achieved in such a short period.
"Nobody could believe that I got to the final, and I don't think anyone [at home] will believe that I won."
A former protege of the late Wimbledon champion Jana Novotna, Krejcikova was super-motivated to achieve greatness for her friend and mentor. Years ago, following a successful journey in the juniors, the youngster approached Novotna and requested help.
"Coming to Jana, knocking on her door, giving her the letter, I think it changed my life," Krejcikova said following a brief pause. "When I finished playing juniors I didn't know what to do. Jana was the one who told me to turn professional.
"Before she passed away, she told me to win a slam. I achieved that in Paris (French Open win 2021), and I never dreamed that I could win the same trophy as Jana did in 1998."
Krejcikova got off to a great start, dominating with accurate power hitting off the baseline. A double break gave her the opening set 6-2 and it was a dream start.
Only 30 minutes had passed and the signs were ominous. However, Paolini took a bathroom break and returned as a different player. Her movement and agility were more than a match for her opponent's size and power in the second set, which she won 6-2.
This was Krejcikova's chance for a bathroom break and, again, it worked. The championship was up for grabs in the final set, but a break by Krejcikova to go 4-3 proved decisive.
It took three match points to get her over the line and the look of shock and delight on the winner's face was infectious.
Paolini played some wonderful tennis and fell just short of becoming the first Italian national to win the Wimbledon crown.
"It's a dream come true to play in this stadium," Paolini said, who fought back the emotions bravely. "Congratulations to Barbora, you played great tennis. Congrats to you and your team."
"The last two months have been crazy for me. I want to thank my team and my family. They always believe in me and support me. The crowd has been amazing. it's incredible to feel the love from them."
The Sporting News followed the Barbora Krejcikova vs. Jasmine Paolini game live and provided game-by-game updates.
Barbora Krejcikova vs. Jasmine Paolini final score
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbora Krejcikova (31) | 6 | 2 | 6 |
| Jasmine Paolini (7) | 2 | 6 | 4 |
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Barbora Krejcikova vs. Jasmine Paolini live updates, highlights from Wimbledon women's final 2024
* Denotes server
A BRILLIANT AND GUTSY PERFORMANCE FROM BARBORA KREJCIKOVA SEES THE CZECH STAR CLAIM HER SECOND GRAND SLAM TITLE AND HER FIRST-EVER WIMBLEDON CROWN. SHE WINS 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 OVER JASMINE PAOLINI.
*Barbora Krejcikova 6-2 2-6 6-4 Jasmine Paolini
Strong baseline hitting and Krejcikova gets the best of it. 30-0 and two points away from glory. DOUBLE FAULT from the Czech star. 30-15. Krejcikova goes long and we're at 30-30. There are clear and understandable nerves. She goes LONG AGAIN and it's break point for Paolini. Great backhand slice from Krejcikova after rushing the net and it's 40-40. The pressure is HUGE! Brilliant backhand forces Paolini to go long and it's CHAMPIONSHIP POINT. Krejcikova goes out on a backhand. Back to 40-40.
Spectacular forehand winner gives Paolini a break point. Paolini challenges a winner and loses to Hawk-Eye yet again. A brilliant serve by Krejcikova gives her another CHAMPIONSHIP POINT. Krejcikova nets and the crowd are in a frenzy at 40-40 again.
Terrible net error by Paolini brings another CHAMPIONSHIP POINT. SHE DOES IT!!!!!
Barbora Krejcikova 6-2 2-6 5-4 Jasmine Paolini*
Despite the pressure she's under, Paolini rockets to a 40-0 lead. The Italian nets on a backhand. 40-15. Krejcikova is forcing her opponent to work. Paolini digs deep and takes the game when she forces her rampaging opponent to net. Krejcikova will serve for the title.
*Barbora Krejcikova 6-2 2-6 5-3 Jasmine Paolini
Powerful baseline hitting forces the Italian to go wide. An ace and it's 30-0. The ebb and flow in this final has been incredible. It's the Czech star in pole position now. 40-0. Another brilliant serve befuddles Paolini. She serves to stay in the championship.
Barbora Krejcikova 6-2 2-6 4-3 Jasmine Paolini*
Paolini goes long and is suddenly at 0-30. A terrific drop shot volley response is impossible to reach. Big serve forces Krejcikova long. 30-30. Great point from Krejcikova, who launches a rocket forehand cross-court to take break point. Slice goes long from Krejcikova. Paolini yells in derision. 40-40. Forehand winner from Krejcikova and it's advantage again. Challenge on Hawk-Eye goes against Paolini on a first serve. DOUBLE FAULT AT A TERRIBLE TIME. Krejcikova gets the break.
*Barbora Krejcikova 6-2 2-6 3-3 Jasmine Paolini
Another first serve goes out from Krejcikova. She makes up for it with an excellent forehand cross-court that hits the line. Ace from the Czech. Paolini returns an insane smash, but Krejcikova still gets the point with a sharp reflex response. Another ace from Krejcikova. Solid service game.
Barbora Krejcikova 6-2 2-6 2-3 Jasmine Paolini*
Back-to-back return errors from Krejcikova and an inexplicable forehand miss. 40-0. Another unforced error. Easy work from Paolini, who still has the momentum despite there being no breaks in this set.
*Barbora Krejcikova 6-2 2-6 2-2 Jasmine Paolini
Paolini goes long with the two-handed backhand. Krejcikova is still inconsistent with the first serve. Krejcikova finds the line to go 30-0. The Czech wins a huge rally to pull away 40-0. Finding her game again. Wins a love game on serve. Quality hold.
Barbora Krejcikova 6-2 2-6 1-2 Jasmine Paolini*
Krejcikova nets on a simple backhand and then goes out. Paolini goes wide on a backhand. 30-15. Big serve from the Italian. Paolini slips and nets. 40-30. Wonderful feet from Paolini, who forces her opponent long by knocking in a big forehand. These games are flying by.
*Barbora Krejcikova 6-2 2-6 1-1 Jasmine Paolini
Paolini goes long. Ace from Krejcikova and it's 30-0. Another big serve and the Italian can't respond. Paolini goes out with her return. Easy hold by Krejcikova and she needed that.
Barbora Krejcikova 6-2 2-6 0-1 Jasmine Paolini*
Wicked forehand winner by Paolini. If Krejcikova was twice as close to it, she still wouldn't have made that. Ace from Paolini and it's 30-0. Krejcikova goes long. Miss hit on a forehand. Game Paolini.
*Barbora Krejcikova 6-2 2-6 Jasmine Paolini
An unforced error off the backhand return forces Krejcikova wide. Paolini goes long following a rally. 15-15. The Czech goes long now and is two points from losing this set. Her first serve is nowhere near what it was before. Dropshot is challenged by Paolini and SHE WINS ONE. It's 15-40 and SET POINT. Krejcikova goes wide and it's SECOND SET TO PAOLINI! Excellent comeback performance!
And now it's a bathroom break for Krejcikova. Let's see if this one is as effective.
Barbora Krejcikova 6-2 2-5 Jasmine Paolini*
Best rally of the game won by Paolini. Spectacular forehand return to end it. Well-aimed and deep second serve forces Krejcikova to go long. Extended rally won by Paolini, who is dominating this set with the same gusto as her opponent took the first.
*Barbora Krejcikova 6-2 2-4 Jasmine Paolini
Forehand winner from Paolini, who struts back to her line with confidence. The big serve returns from Krejcikova and we're at 40-15. Lethal forehand return from Paolini brings her to 30-40. Awesome serve forces Paolini long and it's game Krejcikova.
Barbora Krejcikova 6-2 1-4 Jasmine Paolini*
Both players strike the net with bad errors. BIG ACE from Paolini and she punches the air. Krejcikova skies a return and it's easy pickings. Rapid service game won by the Italian.
*Barbora Krejcikova 6-2 1-3 Jasmine Paolini
First double fault by Krejcikova. AND A SECOND. Nightmare start from Krejcikova in this game. Nice cross-court forehand gets her in the game. 15-30. Great forehand down the line by Paolini and it's 15-40. A complete reversal of the first set. Paolini goes long. Terrific forehand by Krejcikova forces Paolini to net. 40-40. And again... advantage Krejcikova. Paolini goes long. Confidence-building hold for the Czech.
Barbora Krejcikova 6-2 0-3 Jasmine Paolini*
Another Hawk-eye challenge lost by Paolini and it's 15-15, but the momentum swing continues. Another baseline rally is won by the Italian No. 7 seed. 40-15. Paolino nets after a powerful forehand from Krejcikova. 40-30. Attempted forehand drop shot nets and we're at 40-40. Krejcikova reaches a drop shot and pulls an awkward lob that beats Paolini. Break point. Krejcikova nets on a backhand slice. A massive injection of pace on a forehand bomb by Paolini and it's advantage. Important hold for Paolini.
*Barbora Krejcikova 6-2 0-2 Jasmine Paolini
Wonderful baseline rally won by a rejuvenated Paolini. Striking the ball well now. Same again and it's 0-30. The first bit of pressure was put on the Krejcikova serve. Not to be outdone Krejcikova serves a rocket for 15-30. A deep return from Paolini forced Krejcikova to net. 15-40 and it's break point. And again. Game to Paolini and the momentum has switched in the Italian's favour.
Barbora Krejcikova 6-2 0-1 Jasmine Paolini*
Back to action and the best serve of the match by Paolini. 15-0 and the water break did her good. Normal service resumes when a huge forehand forces the error from the Italian. Hawk-Eye challenge by Krejcikova goes her way. 30-30. Well-placed backhand forces Krejcikova wide. 40-30. Paolini with a big serve to take the game. Paulini yells in the direction of her team in celebration.
*Barbora Krejcikova 6-2 Jasmine Paolini
New balls! We're 30 minutes in and it's been like Christmas for Krejcikova. Another booming serve and we're 15-0. Ripping forehand down the line and it's 30-0. Paolini goes wide and it's 40-0. Paolini nets. THE SET IS WON EMPHATICALLY BY KREJCIKOVA.
Paolini takes a bathroom break and she needs it.
Barbora Krejcikova 5-2 Jasmine Paolini*
The first ace from Paolini is needed, but a high backhand invites the smash from Krejcikova. 15-15. Horrible backhand by Paolini nets after an attempted lob. 30-30. Paulini hangs tough and wins the set following two nice rallies.
*Barbora Krejcikova 5-1 Jasmine Paolini
Four-hand volley winner by Krejcikova, who is pulling away in this set now. 30-0. A beautiful shot down the line and it's 40-0. A rare error by Krejcikova, who goes wide on a two-handed backhand. 15-40. Another challenge by Paolini and she's wrong again. Game Krejcikova.
Barbora Krejcikova 4-1 Jasmine Paolini*
Paolini's serve is coming off too slow and Krejcikova capitalizes, moving to 0-30. The Italian goes into a more aggressive posture to get it back to 30-30. Hawk-Eye challenge by Paolinio is overruled (it's out) and we're double break point. Quick rally and it's the double break.
*Barbora Krejcikova 3-1 Jasmine Paolini
The Krejcikova serve continues to be a nightmare for Paolini and just like that it's 30-0. Solid return from Paolini forces Krejcikova to go high. Paolini smashes the return and Krejcikova goes long for 30-15. Another big serve that Paolini can't get back. Paulini's movement working better now and just like that we're at 40-40. WOW! Paulini gets what seems like an impossible drop shot return and the rally continues. Huge cross-court forehand winner from Krejcikova. The serve wins the day again. Game Krejcikova.
Barbora Krejcikova 2-1 Jasmine Paolini*
Prolonged rally and the Italian loses it. Paolini hasn't settled yet - 0-30. Krejcikova nets the return and then finds a cross-court backhand - 30-30. Nice comeback from Paolini, who is getting some rhythm. Paolini hits it out and it's double break-point.
Paolini battles back to duece and then attacks the net to go advantage. It's duece again after Krejcikova utilizes the slice and then advantage Krejcikova. The movement of the Italian keeps her in the next rally and she forces Krejcikova to go long. Duece and now it is advantage. Paolini. Krejcikova can't get the serve back and Paolini is on the board.
*Barbora Krejcikova 2-0 Jasmine Paolini
Two huge serves from Krejcikova take her to 30-0. Paolini gets her return in but Krejcikova responds with a massive cross-court volley 40-0. The same again. Love game for the Czech.
Barbora Krejcikova 1-0 Jasmine Paolini*
We're on! Impressive seven-shot rally won by Krejcikova, who scores the first point 0-15. Paolini on the board after forcing Krejcikova to go wide 15-15. Krejcikova shows her power from the baseline and has a breakpoint already. HUGE forehand and Krejcikova has the break.
2 p.m GMT/ 9 a.m. ET: Both players looked relaxed in the confines of the glorious Wimbledon corridors. Krejcikova and Paolini enter Centre Court for the biggest match of their respective careers to date. The capacity crowd gives them a thunderous ovation. Paolini wins the toss and the warmups commence.
20 mins to go: Paolini is the first female Italian national to contest a Wimbledon final. Krejcikova is no less motivated, seeking to replicate her friend and mentor, the late Jana Novotna, by becoming a champion at SW19.
40 mins to go: Krejcikova and Paolini have never played each other in a grand slam main draw. However, in the Australian Open qualifiers in 2018, Krejcikova dominated the Italian, dropping just three games in a straight-sets win. That was a long time ago.
1 hour to go: Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Barbora Krejcikova vs. Jasmine Paolini in the Wimbledon women's singles final.