By Tony Fairbairn at Wimbledon
- Barbora Krejcikova [31] def Jasmina Paolini [7] 6-2 2-6 6-4
- An emotional Barbora Krejcikova paid tribute to mentor Jana Novotna after claiming her maiden Wimbledon title
LONDON, ENGLAND – Barbora Krejcikova paid tribute to Jana Novotna after claiming her maiden Wimbledon title after defeating Jasmine Paolini in three sets.
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Barbora Krejcikova [31] def Jasmine Paolini [7] 6-2 2-6 6-4
Barbora Krejcikova is the new Wimbledon champion after defeating Jasmine Paolini in a close third setter. The Czech Republican is now a two-time Grand Slam champion and started the match in fine form using a mixture of slice and power to settle the nerves well early on as she used her previous experience in Grand Slam finals to her advantage. Meanwhile Paolini was nervy and erratic as she gave Krejcikova too much time on the ball with the Italian lacking power.
An early break was secured for Krejcikova before Paolini got on the board with some consistent serving. Eventually Krejcikova’s persistent pressure on return paid off as she broke for a second time and seized control of the opening set. There wasn’t much Paolini did to disrupt the rhythm of Krejcikova as she closed out the opening set with some big serving.
However, if there was one thing that was evident over the last couple of months it’s Paolini was not about to give up without a fight. After a quick bathroom break Paolini significantly improved her level as she stepped inside the baseline and dominated with the forehand. The Italian secured a quick break and was producing some of her best serving of the Championships as she secured a 3-0 lead.
More pressure was created by Paolini as Krejcikova was suddenly the passive one as the Czech Republican was forced to save more break points. However, Paolini’s impressively aggressive serving saw Krejcikova struggling to create opportunities on return as the Italian was proactive and in control. Another clinical game on return saw Paolini break for a second time as she levelled the match at one set all.
In the deciding set both players traded blows from the baseline as it was Krejcikova’s variety against Paolini’s renewed aggression and energy. Only three points were dropped on serve in the opening six games in a very impressive start to the third set as neither player showed signs of nerves and produced aggressive play in order to prove they wanted to win the final rather than being afraid to lose it.
The seventh game was when that changed as Krejcikova mixed up her patterns of play on return, causing Paolini trouble. The world number seven was aggressive on the big points throughout the tournament but crumbled under pressure when it really mattered as on Krejcikova’s second break point, the Italian double faulted and handed Krejcikova the break at 4-3.
As the finishing line drew closer, Krejcikova got understandably tight and nervous as she couldn’t close out the match. The Italian was aggressive on return as she tested Krejcikova’s composure under pressure. Despite saving two match points, Paolini missed some simple returns on Deuce as she gave Krejcikova a third match point.
It was third time lucky for Krejcikova as she sealed the biggest moment of her career to win a maiden Wimbledon title and her second Grand Slam singles title of her career.
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Krejcikova pays tribute to Novotna after achieving Wimbledon dream
A phenomenal performance and result for Krejcikova as she won her second Grand Slam title by achieving her Wimbledon dream.
After her win Krejcikova described the achievement as ‘crazy’ and said that it’s the best day of her career so far.
“No, it sounds crazy, but yeah, I’m super happy. I’m super happy that I won today, yeah, that I was able to lift up the trophy. Yeah, it’s a great feeling,” Krejcikova started her press conference by saying.
“I think I do, yes. I think I did because today was very difficult, and I really had to dig deep in every aspect. Also in tennis, but also mentally. I’m extremely proud that I was able to do that, to hold everything together, and to just win the finals.”
An amazing accomplishment for Krejcikova who achieved her Wimbledon dream today through a hard-fought battle.
After the win, Krejcikova admitted that Wimbledon is the Grand Slam she has always wanted to win and detailed why it was so special to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish.
“It’s tough to say. I mean, winning any slam is great. Winning here at the Wimbledon is huge for me,” Krejcikova stated.
“But I wouldn’t really say it was kind of like my dreams when I was very little. I have like a little notebook that I wrote when I was, like, 12. I don’t know, maybe like three, four months ago I was listing through that notebook. I had there that in the future, like back then when I was 12, I wrote that in the future I would like to win the French Open. So it was quite a big dream for me to win the French Open.
“To be honest, maybe things shifted a little bit when I actually met Jana and when she was telling me all the stories about Wimbledon, about the grass, how difficult it was for her to win the title and how emotional she was when she actually made it.
“I think since then I started to see the Wimbledon like the biggest tournament in the world.”
As mentioned in that quote there, this win at Wimbledon is emotional for more than one reason for Krejcikova.
This is a title that her mentor Jana Novotna won and the 31st seed broke down when she saw her name alongside Novotna’s name on the winners board.
Speaking about Novotna’s influence Krejcikova admitted she was ‘emotional’ and explained what was so special about Novotna.
“Well, the only thing that was going through my head was that I miss Jana a lot. It was just very, very emotional. Very emotional moment to see me on a board right next to here,” Krejcikova revealed.
“I think she would be proud. I think she would be really excited that I’m on a same board as she is because Wimbledon was super special for her.
“We started beginning of 2014 until she passed away. Well, like I’m not exactly sure what I wrote in the letter right now, but I wrote something that I’m playing tennis, that I’m 18, I just finished juniors, and that I don’t know what to do right now. So if she could, like, look at me and maybe help me, guide me, tell me which direction should I go.
“I’m dreaming about her a lot. I’m dreaming about her, like, in a dream. I think she would tell me that she is very proud about me and that she’s super happy.”
Paolini admits disappointment after final heartbreak
However it was heartbreak for Paolini who lost a close third set to Krejcikova and was so near to winning a maiden Grand Slam title.
A double fault in the seventh game ultimately cost the Italian the match as she will have to wait to achieve her Grand Slam dream.
After the match Paolini admitted that it was tough to speak after losing her first Wimbledon final.
“Yeah, today is a little bit tough to speak now,” the Italian started her press conference by saying.
“Yeah, it’s been a really good two weeks. I have to accept today and to try to work hard. I’m sure I’m going to do it, but today it’s tough to speak ’cause I was close but not enough.”
It has been a positive yet tough last two months for Paolini who lost her second consecutive Grand Slam final.
The Italian was asked to compare her emotions with the ones in Paris where she was thrashed by Iga Swiatek before admitting that despite her improvement she is disappointed about the result.
“I don’t know. I have still to, I think, realize that I did final in Wimbledon. It’s an amazing thing. Of course, now I’m a little bit disappointed,” Paolini admitted.
“Yeah, as I said, it’s been an incredible year. Yeah, I’m enjoying. I hope to continue like that with this level of tennis. I’m going to try to work to keep this focus, this level.
“I don’t know. I started bad. But, yeah, I said, Okay, take some time and try to relax and to come back in the second set stronger to try to push the ball more because I was a little bit controlling too much, and I missed a lot of shots.
“She was playing, honestly, very good the first set. She was serving really, really good. High percentage of first serves. Was tough. But, yeah, I think I did better than the last final, but still not enough.”
Despite the two contrasting defeats it’s clear that Paolini has worked a lot on her game as it has been an incredible season for the Italian.
Paolini detailed the methods she’s gone through to improve her level and attributed it to more than just one thing.
“I think, yeah, I improve a little bit my game. Yeah, as I said many times, I believe more in myself. I improve serve. I think I improve the return,” Paolini explained.
“Also, I think physically I’m better than two years ago. I’m working since one year and a half with a new fitness coach. Many things, I think. Not just one. I think also winning matches helps a lot. I started well this year, but I was playing good also the last year.
“I don’t know. I think, yeah, winning matches of course helps. But I think we are doing also lot of work in the practice session with my coach, my fitness coach, the video analysis. Many things.”
As a result of her run over the last two months Paolini is now a top five player as she will be one of the players to beat at the US Open later this year.
Paolini doesn’t want to stop there though as she has eyes set on her latest dream.
“Sometimes I’m a little bit scared to dream too much. I have to say that. I don’t know,” Paolini said with a beaming smile on her face.
“I’m going back, trying to practice, to stay in the present, as I said many times. This is the goal for me, my team, to try to keep this level as much as possible.
“If I keep this level, I think I can have the chance to do great things. But if I’m not keeping this level, it’s not coming anything good. I don’t know what to dream right now. Today I was dreaming to hold the trophy, but didn’t went well. Yeah, I’m just enjoying the position where I am right now, 5 in the world.
“It’s unbelievable, honestly. I just did two finals in two Grand Slams. I have to be also happy with the results.”
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