Czech victory last year. Czech victory this year.
Barbora Krejcikova followed in Marketa Vondrousova's footsteps and won Wimbledon's women's singles.
The 32nd-ranked Czech defeated the 7th-ranked Italian Jasmine Paolini with 6–2, 2–6, 6–4.
Afterwards, the joy was great.
I have no words right now. It's unreal what just happened. It's definitely the best day in my tennis career and the best day in my life, she says in Eurosport's broadcast.
"Unbelievable what she has done"
The 28-year-old Krejcikova took command of the match and won the first set comfortably. The same-aged Paolini started nervously and made several simple mistakes. In the second set, it was a more focused Paolini who came out. She took charge immediately, pulled away, and won with the same score.
Everything was then decided in the third set, which became a thrilling finish. In the end, Krejcikova drew the longest straw and won with 6–4. Krejcikova has a Grand Slam title from before, the French Open 2021. Moreover, she has several Grand Slam titles in doubles.
We fought for every ball, and in the end, I was the lucky one. She (Paolini) played in the French Open a few weeks ago, and it's unbelievable what she has done in such a short time, says Krejcikova.
According to the WTA tour's website, Krejcikova is the second-lowest ranked player to win the women's class in Wimbledon since the ranking was introduced in 1975. The lowest ranked to win? Her compatriot Marketa Vondrousova, then ranked 42nd, who won last year.
"You play such beautiful tennis"
This summer's big breakthrough player, Jasmine Paolini, played her second consecutive Grand Slam final. Earlier this summer, she reached the final in the French Open, where she lost to Pole Iga Swiatek.
She became the first woman since Serena Williams in 2016 to play the final in the French Open and Wimbledon the same summer. But she will have to continue waiting for her first Grand Slam title in her career. No Italian has previously won Wimbledon.
I want to congratulate Barbora. You played incredibly. You play such beautiful tennis, says Paolini in Eurosport.
2024: Barbora Krejcikova, Czech Republic.
2023: Marketa Vondrousova, Czech Republic.
2022: Jelena Rybakina, Kazakhstan.
2021: Ashleigh Barty, Australia.
2020: Cancelled due to covid-19.
2019: Simona Halep, Romania.
