Three years after making a breakthrough by winning the French Open title in 2021, Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic stormed back after losing the first set to storm into her second Grand Slam singles final after a stirring semifinal win at the Wimbledon on July 11.

Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, meanwhile, battled from a set down and twice a break down in the decider to outlast Donna Vekic in three sets in the longest semifinal-ever in women’s singles at Wimbledon.

Meanwhile, No.31 seed Krejcikova booked her spot in July 12’s summit clash after battling past No.4 seed Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 comeback win in the second semifinal.

Krejcikova took 2 hours and 7 minutes to turn around the match and seal victory on Centre Court and will now meet Paolini.

Despite her lower seeding on the day, Krejcikova came into the match with a 2-0 head-to-head lead against Rybakina, and she backed that record up.

Rybakina entered the match with a 90.5% win rate in the Wimbledon main draw (19-2 before July 11), which had been third-best in the Open Era behind former champions Ann Jones and Stefanie Graf.

Paolini’s win against Vekic

Paolini, the No.7 seed, defeated Vekic 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(8) in 2 hours and 51 minutes to become the first Italian woman to reach the final at Wimbledon in the Open Era.

In a nerve-wracking clash, Paolini came out on top of the final rally and the Centre Court rose as one to give both competitors a standing ovation at the end of nearly three hours of thrilling tennis.

The runner-up at Roland Garros a month ago to Iga Swiatek, Paolini has immediately backed up that run with her second major final. The 28-year-old is the first player since Serena in 2016 to reach both the French Open and Wimbledon finals in the same season.

Paolini is only the fifth player to accomplish that feat in the past 25 years following Steffi Graf (1999), Serena Williams (2002, 2015, 2016), Venus Williams (2002), and Justine Henin (2006).

Wimbledon women’s singles final

Krejcikova and Paolini have met only once before, quite some time ago and at a completely different level – a first-round qualifying match at the 2018 Australian Open, when they were both ranked outside the Top 100. Krejcikova won that match handily 6-2, 6-1.

(This story is taken from a syndicated feed, and was only edited for style by Gujarat Samachar Digital staff)