On a sunny Saturday afternoon at the All England Club, Czech sensation Barbora Krejcikova defeated a valiant Jasmine Paolini of Italy in three sets, to become the unlikely champion and further cement her status among the modern greats of women’s tennis.
In what was a captivating final between two first-time finalists, Krejcikova showcased her vast repertoire and tremendous fighting spirit to outlast the spirited seventh seed over three hours of compelling action. The scores were 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 in the Czech’s favor, as she became the fourth player from her nation to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish in the Open Era.
From the outset, Krejcikova was in complete control of proceedings as she dominated proceedings from the back of the court. Utilizing her formidable backhand slice and metronomic serving, she broke Paolini twice to pocket the opening set with ease. However, the second set saw the tide turn as the Italian upped her intensity level. Paolini began attacking Krejcikova’s serve with interest and soon found herself a early break up. She rode the momentum to level the match.
The decider was a nail-biting affair as both players lifted their level. After trading breaks early, Krejcikova earned a crucial second break with some strategic play to serve out the championship. Despite a late lapse that saw Paolini break back and nearly push it to a final tiebreak, the experienced Czech kept her composure to close out a memorable triumph.
With this surreal victory, the unheralded Krejcikova adds a maiden singles Major to her already illustrious resume that includes 10 Grand Slam doubles titles and an Olympic gold. Her reward is a place amongst the great Czech champions to have triumphed at the grasscourt major. Most importantly, she puts to rest any doubts regarding her credentials, cementing her status as a true force in the women’s game.
