What This Title Means To Me ‘Krejcikovic’
Barbora Krejcikova is the Wimbledon ladies’ singles champion after the 31st seed earned an impressive 6-2 2-6 6-4 win over Jasmine Paolini to claim the title for the first time. Krejcikova’s second career major arrives three years after her first at the French Open as she edged a hard-fought deciding set to consign the Italian to a second Grand Slam final defeat in a row.
Barbora Krejcikova claimed her first Wimbledon title and second major by battling past Jasmine Paolini in three sets to win the ladies’ singles final.
The 28-year-old from the Czech Republic added to her 2021 French Open title by beating the Italian 6-2 2-6 6-4 on Centre Court.
But the former world No. 2 held her nerve in a closely contested decider to claim what she called the best win of her career.
“It’s unreal what just happened,” Krejcikova said. “It’s definitely the best day of my tennis career and also the best day of my life. It’s super difficult to explain what I’m feeling right now.
“I think nobody is going to believe it. I still cannot believe it. Two weeks ago when I started here, I had a very tough first match, three hours and 15 minutes, winning 7-5 in the third set.
“I wasn’t really in good shape before that because I was injured and ill, I didn’t really have a good beginning of the season.
“It’s unbelievable now I’m standing here and I’m a Wimbledon winner. How did that happen? I have no idea.”
It was heartbreak for Italy’s Paolini, who suffered a second successive major final defeat following her loss to Iga Swiatek at the French Open last month.
But the 28-year-old still made history as the first Italian to reach the women’s singles final, while she will rise to a career-high No. 5 in the WTA rankings on Monday after a stellar summer.
The last two months have been crazy for me and I want to thank my team, my family, everybody who is there because they always support me and believe me. Without them, I wouldn’t be here,” Paolini said.
I try to keep smiling because I have to remember that today is still a good day. I was watching Wimbledon on TV as a kid, watching the finals and cheering for Roger Federer, I have to say.
“To be here right now is crazy. I think I enjoyed every moment here, it’s been a beautiful two weeks.”
Krejcikova, who will jump up 22 places in the rankings from 32nd to 10th, also paid tribute to her former friend and mentor Jana Novotna.
The 1998 Wimbledon champion died from cancer aged 49 in 2017 and was instrumental in launching Krejcikova’s tennis career when she was still a child.
“Knocking on her door, giving her the letter, everything that happened changed my life,” Krejcikova said. “During the period when I finished juniors, I didn’t know what I should do, if I should continue and play pro, if I should go the way of education. Jana was the one who told me that I had the potential and that I should definitely turn pro.
“Before she passed away, she told me to go and win a Slam. I achieved that already in Paris in 2021. It was an unbelievable moment for me, and I never really dreamed that I would win the same trophy that Jana did in 1998.”