Barbora Krejcikova Honors Novotna with Wimbledon Victory

Czech player Barbora Krejcikova claimed her first Wimbledon title by defeating Jasmine Paolini.

Barbora Krejcikova stood triumphantly with the Venus Rosewater Dish, unable to believe her own victory. “I don’t have any words right now, it’s just unbelievable,” the Czech champion said. Reflecting on her unexpected win for the Czech Republic, she added, “Nobody believes I got to the final and nobody believes that I won Wimbledon. I still can’t believe it.”

Krejcikova’s journey to Wimbledon glory was remarkable. Entering the tournament with just three wins in five months due to injuries and illness, she defied the odds by winning seven consecutive matches. She clinched the title with a thrilling 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 victory over seventh seed Jasmine Paolini. Her campaign began with a challenging three-set win over Veronika Kudermetova, setting the tone for her incredible run.

Throughout the tournament, the memory of Jana Novotna, the 1998 Wimbledon champion, inspired Krejcikova. At 18, Krejcikova sought Novotna’s mentorship, which proved transformative. Despite Novotna’s passing in 2017, her belief in Krejcikova’s potential stayed with the Czech player. Winning Wimbledon brought Krejcikova to tears as she joined Novotna on the champions board.

Barbora Krejcikova admitted that winning Wimbledon wasn’t her childhood dream—it was the French Open. However, Novotna’s stories about Wimbledon shifted her perspective, making the grass-court tournament her ultimate goal. For Jasmine Paolini, the final was another tough Grand Slam loss after her defeat to Iga Swiatek at the French Open.

Despite her determination and fan-favorite status, Paolini couldn’t overcome Krejcikova. She will rise to world number five in the rankings, the highest for an Italian woman since 2013. “I think I did better than the last final, but still not enough,” Paolini said, acknowledging her progress but recognizing there is still room to grow.

Cataleya