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In Dance Of Wimbledon Champions, Carlos Alcaraz Shakes Leg With Barbora Krejcikova. Watch

admin — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 01:08:06 +0000

Carlos Alcaraz successfully retained his Wimbledon men’s singles title, decimating Novak Djokovic, one of the greats of the game, in the final. Alcaraz, who had beaten Djokovic in the same final last year as well, but over 5 sets, secured a much more comfortable win this time, winning in 3 straight sets. After the win, the Spaniard said he does not know his limit but believed the Serb is still “Superman”. But, one area where Alcaraz does know his limits is dancing, and that was visible after the game.

As the Wimbledon tradition goes, the winner of the men’s singles championship dances with the winner of the women’s singles championship. When Alcaraz was informed about this on the court, he was visibly nervous, as he isn’t as confident of his dancing skills as he is of his abilities on the court.

The end result, however, was ad decent one as Alcaraz was seen dancing with Barbora Krejcikova.

Genios absolutos.

Carlos Alcaraz y Barbora Krejcikova bailando en la cena de ganadores de Wimbledon. pic.twitter.com/4n4CDOpm4Y

— Manuel Sanchez (@ManuSanchezGom) July 14, 2024

“I wish I could dance better, let’s see tonight, ha”, Alcaraz said on court when he was informed of the traditional dance with the women’s singles champion.

The Spanish third seed beat the seven-time champion 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4), collecting the fourth Grand Slam of his young career and underlining a changing of the guard. Alcaraz, 21, who has won three of the past five majors, said he wanted to enjoy his “amazing journey so far” rather than look too far into the future.

“I really want to keep going, to keep improving, to keep growing up, try to keep winning. That’s all that matters for me right now,” he said.

“I don’t know what is my limit. I don’t want to think about it. I just want to keep enjoying my moment, just to keep dreaming.

“So let’s see if at the end of my career it’s going to be 25, 30, 15, four (Slams). I don’t know. All I want to say is I want to keep enjoying and let’s see what the future brings to me.”

Despite his staggering success at such a tender age, Alcaraz said it was more important where he finished.

“I want to sit at the same table as the big guys,” he said. “That’s my main goal. That’s my dream right now.”

Djokovic was aiming for record 25th major but struggled to get going against a man 16 years his junior on Centre Court, and Alcaraz said he took advantage of the veteran’s mistakes.

Alcaraz described the Serb as “Superman” before the tournament started and said he had no reason to change his mind, especially as Djokovic had surgery on his knee just last month.

“I’m still believing that Novak is Superman because what he has done this tournament with a surgery just a few weeks before the tournament began,” he said.

“It is amazing. It is unbelievable. Honestly, as I said on court, I was talking to my team that the work that Novak has done has been unbelievable.”

Alcaraz and world number one Jannik Sinner, 22, have won all three Grand Slams this year, suggesting a change in the balance of power at the top of the game.

The Spaniard said it was positive to have new champions after Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer dominated for so long.

“I think it is good for tennis to have new faces winning the big things and fighting for the big tournaments,” he said.

“I’m really glad to have him (Sinner) there. As I said many times, we have a really good rivalry, as young players that are coming up, fighting for these things as well. I think it’s great for the sport, for tennis and I think for the players.”

With AFP Inputs

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Carlos Alcaraz
Barbora Krejcikova
Wimbledon 2024

Tennis

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Jasmine Paolini ‘Scared To Dream’ After Wimbledon 2024 Heartbreak

admin — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 18:03:57 +0000

Jasmine Paolini during the Wimbledon 2024 final© AFP

Jasmine Paolini said she was “scared to dream too much” after the bitter disappointment of losing the Wimbledon final to Barbora Krejcikova — weeks after she lost the title match at the French Open. The seventh-ranked Italian recovered from a shaky start to level against her Czech opponent but ended up sinking to a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 defeat on Centre Court. At Roland Garros last month she lost the final to world number one Iga Swiatek, winning just three games. Despite the disappointments, it has been a remarkable rise for Paolini, the first Italian woman to reach a Wimbledon singles final.

The 28-year-old had never been beyond the second round of a Grand Slam before reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open earlier this year.

In the new rankings next week she will be number five in the world even though she ended last season down in 30th spot.

Paolini said she was still aiming at “great things” despite her painful losses in Paris and London.

“Sometimes I’m a little bit scared to dream too much,” she said. “I have to say that. I don’t know.

“I’m going back, trying to practise, 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.”

She described her feelings as bittersweet.

“Today I was dreaming to hold the trophy, but it didn’t go well,” she said. “I’m just enjoying the position where I am right now, five 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. Also a little bit disappointed.”

Topics mentioned in this article

Jasmine Paolini
Barbora Krejcikova
Wimbledon 2024

Tennis

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Five Things To Know About Wimbledon 2024 Champion Barbora Krejcikova

admin — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 16:49:13 +0000

Barbora Krejcikova beat Jasmine Paolini in three sets to win the 2024 Wimbledon women’s title on Saturday. AFP Sport looks at five things to know about the Czech 28-year-old, who now has two Grand Slam titles.

Legoland to dreamland

When Krejcikova is not playing tennis, she is building Lego models.

In her repertoire are the Milky Way, and Dobby, a character from the world of Harry Potter.

“I have many of them actually. Yeah, I even received some from my team here,” she said.

She hopes one day to put together a Lego version of Wimbledon Centre Court.

“If there’s one for me, I’ll do that,” said Krejcikova.

Helping hands

Krejcikova sacked coach Ales Kartus, who helped her to the 2021 French Open title, in July last year. Since then, she has not had a full-time coach but is working with Pavel Motl, who is two years younger, at 26.

They went to the same school and occasionally trained together.

Recalling how they first met, Motl told the iDNES.cz news website: “Bara was 10 and she played in the village where I live. She was playing on court number three and beat our adult neighbour 6-0, 6-0.”

Motl refuses to call himself a coach.

“I don’t know whether I will ever call myself a coach. For me, it’s a kind of a lifetime journey.”

Family life

At Wimbledon, Krejcikova shuns life in official hotels, preferring instead to stay with a local family as she has done for the past decade.

Krejcikova has often spoken of the “relaxed atmosphere” at the house, where her late coach Jana Novotna used to stay too.

The 31st seed paid an emotional tribute to Novotna, who also hails from Brno, in an on-court interview after her semi-final win.

Novotna, who won Wimbledon in 1998, died from cancer in 2017 at the age of 49.

“I remember thinking about her a lot,” said Krejcikova. “I have so many beautiful memories and when I step on the court I fight for every single ball as that is what she would want me to do.”

School’s out

Krejcikova admits she was committed to reaching junior finals as it often meant a day off from school.

“I always liked playing the finals at minor tournaments, because we played on Mondays and I didn’t have to go to school. That was my goal for the weekend,” she said.

Olympics dream

Krejcikova is due to team up with Katerina Siniakova for the Paris Olympics as the pair seek to defend their doubles title from Tokyo.

The two split last November after winning seven Grand Slam titles together.

The split was initiated by Siniakova, who decided to team up with Storm Hunter but the Australian picked up an Achilles tendon injury in April, meaning a spell on the sidelines.

Siniakova won the French Open women’s doubles with Coco Gauff last month and has reached this year’s Wimbledon final with Taylor Townsend.

Krejcikova teamed up with Laura Siegemund for the women’s doubles at Wimbledon but they knocked out in the quarter-finals.

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Barbora Krejcikova
Jasmine Paolini
Wimbledon 2024

Tennis

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Barbora Krejcikova Wins Wimbledon For Second Grand Slam Singles Title

admin — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 15:26:56 +0000

Barbora Krejcikova clinched the Wimbledon 2024 title© AFP

Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic defeated Italy’s Jasmine Paolini to win the Wimbledon women’s title on Saturday for her second Grand Slam singles triumph. Krejcikova, the 31st seed, won 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 to add the 2024 All England Club crown to her 2021 French Open victory. Her win comes 26 years after her mentor Jana Novotna, who died in 2017, claimed the Wimbledon title. The result meant seventh-seeded Paolini had lost two Grand Slam finals back-to-back after coming off second best to Iga Swiatek at the French Open last month. Krejcikova set the tone immediately by breaking the Italian in the opening game and backing up the advantage with a hold to love.

Paolini had to save two break points in the third game but she cracked under the strain again as the composed Czech stormed into a double-break ahead for 4-1.

Krejcikova moved to three set points in the eighth game and only needed one as Paolini dumped a backhand return into the net.

The nerve-wracked Italian managed to claim just four points on the Czech’s serve in the 35-minute opener. Krejcikova hit 10 winners to the Italian’s five.

Paolini dashed off Centre Court for a bathroom break and returned re-energised.

She had also dropped the first set in her marathon semi-final triumph over Donna Vekic and on Saturday she launched another second set fightback.

Breaks in the second and eighth games levelled the final after a set in which Krejcikova made 14 unforced errors to seven for her opponent and take her double-fault count to a tournament-high of 33.

The Czech managed just four winners in the set as she went spectacularly off the boil.

However, momentum shifted dramatically back in her favour in the decider when Paolini double-faulted to surrender a break and fall 3-4 behind.

Krejcikova held to love for 5-3 but endured a nervy conclusion, requiring three championship points and saving two break points in the 10th game to seal the title.

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Barbora Krejcikova
Wimbledon 2024

Tennis

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Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Highlights: Krejcikova Defeats Paolini In 3-Set Thriller To Win Maiden Wimbledon Title

admin — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 15:26:03 +0000

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Highlights: A nerve-wracking, end-to-end Wimbledon Women’s Singles final was decided in the final set, as Barbara Krejcikova won her second Grand Slam title, and her very first Wimbledon, beating Jasmine Paolini in the final, at Centre Court. She won 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. Paolini mounted an incredible comeback in the second set after Krejcikova raced to victory in the first set. Krejcikova, now a two-time Grand Slam winner (after French Open 2021), shocked 11th seed Danielle Collins in the fourth round and former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the quarter-finals, before punching even higher in a three-set win over 2022 champion Elena Rybakina in the last four. Paolini, on the other hand, faced the agony of losing back-to-back Grand Slam finals on the trot.

Here are the Highlights of Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Between Barbora Krejcikova and Jasmine Paolini

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July13202420:42 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Agony for Paolini

The 28-year-old Italian has now lost successive Grand Slam finals, but what a show she put on today. An incredible comeback to take it to the third set, and she proved to be a very worthy finalist.
July13202420:40 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Second Grand Slam for Krejcikova

After a three-year drought, Krejcikova, seeded 31st, has won the second Grand Slam singles title of her career. The first came in the 2021 French Open.
July13202420:37 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: KREJCIKOVA IS WIMBLEDON CHAMPION!

A fabulous final game of the game. It went back-and-forth so many times. Krejcikova had two championship points denied, Paolini had two break points denied. But ultimately, Krejcikova emerges as the winner of Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles! 6-2, 2-6, 6-4.

What. A. Final.
July13202420:25 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: It’s not over yet! 5-4

Jasmine Paolini with a superb response. Krejcikova may still have the advantage, but the Wimbledon Women’s Singles final is still alive.
July13202420:23 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Krejcikova can see glory now…

The Czech star leads 5-3 in the deciding set. She wins the game on her own serve, and is now one game away from a first Wimbledon Singles title. Jasmine Paolini will serve to keep the championship alive.
July13202420:20 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Krejcikova breaks!

Barbora Krejcikova has broken Jasmine Paolini’s serve in the final set. Paolini gave out a loud roar when she was able to tie the game at deuce. But a couple of unforced errors has given Krejcikova the upper hand in the deciding set.
July13202420:14 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Krejcikova fights back again. 3-3

The Czech star seems to have found her form back on her own serve, and makes it 3-3 and level-pegging once more in the final. Oh, this is intense.
July13202420:11 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Paolini flawless. 3-2

Paolini leads again in the deciding set, with a superb set of serves. She leads 3-2 in the Wimbledon Women’s Singles Final, keeping the pressure firmly on Krejcikova.
July13202420:09 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Krejcikova is not giving up! 2-2

The Czech pulls it back again to level terms on her serve. 2-2 in the final.
July13202420:05 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Paolini back in front. 2-1

The Italian seems invincible on her serve now. She takes back the lead in the final set, making it 2-1 in her favour.
July13202420:02 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Krejcikova responds! 1-1

The Czech finally puts together a flawless service, and takes the game. 1-1 in the deciding set of the Wimbledon Women’s Singles Final.
July13202419:59 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Paolini takes first blood in deciding set

Italian Jasmine Paolini is playing her best tennis now. She starts off the final set with a superb set of serves, and wins without dropping a point. 1-0.
July13202419:55 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: It’s all down to this.

The match is tied at 1-1, with one set to go. Krejcikova won the first set 6-2, Paolini replied with a 6-2 set win of her own. It has been a fascinating, undulating, end-to-end contest. Winner takes all now.
July13202419:54 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Paolini’s comeback is complete! 1-1

Jasmine Paolini with an utterly phenomenal comeback to level the Wimbledon Women’s Singles final at 1-1. Roles have been reversed from the first set, with Paolini breaking Krejcikova twice in the second set. Krejcikova has had an erratic second set, and seems to have lost some of her confidence from before.
July13202419:47 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Paolini on the verge of a comeback!

Jasmine Paolini once again wins her own serve. She’s completely reborn in the second set, and now stands one game away from an incredible comeback in the Wimbledon Women’s Singles Final! Krejcikova will serve to keep the set alive.
July13202419:44 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Krejcikova pulls it back to 4-2

A couple of excellent shots in that game. First, a superb ace and a battle cry from Krejcikova, and then immediately after that, a stunning return by Paolini. Krejcikova wins the game, and keeps the set alive at 4-2.
July13202419:40 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Paolini leads 4-1 in second set

The tide has swung completely from the first set, and Jasmine Paolini is now in the driving seat. She wins the game on her serve, and makes it 4-1 in the second set. Remember, Paolini must win to stay alive in the game, after Krejcikova won the first set.
July13202419:38 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Krejcikova pulls it back to 3-1

Barbora Krejcikova wins her first game of the second set, pulling it back to 3-1. Paolini was up 40-15, but a phenomenal display of composure from Krejcikova sees her come back and win after deuce.
July13202419:31 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Paolini leads 3-0 in second set

A terrific fourth game in the second, going back and forth many times, but Paolini now leads 3-0. Smiles from her mother in the stands. The Italian comeback is on, and Krejcikova is unable to find a response at the moment.
July13202419:27 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Paolini breaks Krejcikova!

The Italian is re-energised in the second set, and has broken Krejcikova for the first time today. She leads 2-0, and Krejcikova is on the back foot for the first time in the final.
July13202419:23 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Paolini leads 1-0 in second set

Jasmine Paolini wins the first game this time around, and takes a 1-0 lead in the second set. Krejcikova had her moments in that game, though, levelling it at 30-30, but losing it in the end.
July13202419:20 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Paolini serves first in second set

It is Jasmine Paolini who gets us underway for a potentially decisive second set in the Wimbledon Women’s Singles Final. If Krejcikova wins, she is champion.
July13202419:16 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Krejcikova wins the first set 6-2

Barbora Krejcikova has sealed the first set! A dominant serve, she does not drop a point and wraps up a very convincing first set victory (6-2). She broke Paolini’s serve twice, once on the very first game, and the Italian never looked like she could come back.
July13202419:13 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Paolini survives, for now! 5-2

Jasmine Paolini wins only her second game in the first set, taking the score to 5-2. Krejcikova had levelled the score at 30-30, but Paolini managed to get the decisive final points and win the game. Krejcikova serving to win the set now!
July13202419:09 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Krejcikova leads 5-1 in the first set

The Czech dominates again on her serve, and comfortably takes the game, making it 5-1 in the final on the first set. Paolini is serving to stay alive now.
July13202419:07 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Unforced errors from Paolini

The Italian’s biggest weakness today has been the number of unforced errors she has made, with many of her shots going outside and gifting points to Krejcikova.
July13202419:05 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Krejcikova breaks again, leads 4-1

Barbora Krejcikova is running away with the first set now. She breaks Paolini’s serve for the second time, and now leads 4-1 in the final. She has one hand on the set, and has been the better player today.
July13202419:01 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Krejcikova leads 3-1 in the first set

Fantastic tennis from both finalists, the two share can incredible rally for the first deuce. Paolini puts up a strong fight, and comes back from 40-15 down in the game to take it to deuce, but Krejcikova wins out in the end.
July13202418:54 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Paolini wins her first game, pulls it back to 2-1

A superb third game. Paolini starts off on the back foot on her serve, but the Italian finally shows some form and comes back to take it to deuce. The players fight out through three rounds of deuce, but Paolini holds her nerve to win her first game of the day. Krejcikova leads 2-1.
July13202418:46 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Krejcikova on a roll

Barbora Krejcikova looks in fine form, and does not drop a point in her first serve to win the second game. She leads Paolini 2-0 now in the final!
July13202418:44 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Krejcikova breaks early!

The Czech star is off to a fine start, with a number of unforced errors by Paolini. Krejcikova breaks Paolini’s very first serve, and leads 1-0 in the Wimbledon Women’s Singles Final.
July13202418:39 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: We are underway!

Paolini serves to Krejcikova. Kelly Rask is the chair umpire, officiating her first Grand Slam singles final. Get your strawberries and cream, we are go for the Women’s Singles Final in the grandest Grand Slam of all. 2024 awaits a champion!
July13202418:34 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Paolini wins the toss

Italian Jasmine Paolini has won the toss, and will be serving the first game of the 2024 Wimbledon Women’s Singles Final. The players are now doing their final practices ahead of the start.
July13202418:28 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Final: Get ready!

The two finalists, Krejcikova and Paolini, are on their way to Centre Court.
July13202418:17 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Krejcikova’s route to final

Krejcikova shocked 11th seed Danielle Collins in the fourth round and former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the quarter-finals before a stunning three-set win over 2022 champion Rybakina in the last four.
July13202418:12 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Massive occasion

Jasmine Paolini has set her sights on capping a surprise run to the final by winning her maiden Grand Slam title. Paolini survived the longest women’s singles semi-final in Wimbledon history to beat Donna Vekic 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10/8) after two hours and 51 minutes on Thursday. The 28-year-old is the first Italian woman to reach the final of the grass-court Grand Slam.
July13202418:11 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Tough journey

Barbora Krejcikova was already a Grand Slam winner, having clinched the French Open title in 2021, and had victories over Swiatek, Sabalenka and Rybakina to her credit. But Krejcikova appeared to have lost her campaign to be seen as an elite player when a combination of injury and illness sent her crashing down the rankings.
July13202418:09 (IST)

Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final Live: Hello and welcome

Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of the Wimbledon women’s singles final encounter between Barbora Krejcikova and Jasmine Paolini.

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Barbora Krejcikova Defeats Fourth Seed Elena Rybakina To Reach Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Singles Final

admin — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 18:20:07 +0000

Czech 31st seed Barbora Krejcikova will face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in the Wimbledon final after battling back for a shock 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over former champion Elena Rybakina on Thursday. Just hours after Paolini beat tearful Croatian Donna Vekic 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10/8) in the longest women’s semi-final at the All England Club, it was Krejcikova’s turn to dig deep for victory against fourth seeded Rybakina in two hours and seven minutes on Centre Court. Krejcikova faces seventh seed Paolini on Saturday in what will be the second Grand Slam final of the 28-year-old’s career after her French Open triumph in 2021. “I’m so proud about my game and my fighting spirit today,” said Krejcikova.

The Czech started 2024 with a run to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, but a first round exit at the French Open was a major setback.

She struggled with a back injury and illness, winning just three singles matches in the five months before finally finding her form in remarkable style at Wimbledon.

Krejcikova shocked 11th seed Danielle Collins in the fourth round and former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the quarter-finals, before turning her sights on Rybakina.

The two-time Wimbledon doubles champion is now one win away from an unexpected triumph in the singles.

“Unbelievable. It is very tough to explain, but a lot of joy and a lot of emotions,” Krejcikova said.

“When I broke her in the second set, I started to be in the zone and I didn’t want to leave the zone.”

Rybakina had been in formidable form, dropping just one set as she extended her impressive All England Club record to 19 wins from 21 matches.

The 25-year-old, who won Wimbledon in 2022, made a fast start with two quick breaks for an early 4-0 lead in a one-sided first set against Krejcikova.

In her first Wimbledon semi-final, Krejcikova turned the tide in the second set, landing a priceless break in the sixth game.

She levelled the match on her sixth set point, making it the first time in 20 years that both Wimbledon women’s semi-finals had gone to the final set.

The Czech held all the momentum and she eventually wore down Rybakina, who had committed over 35 unforced errors by the time she surrendered her serve in the decisive, seventh game of the final set.

Paolini had never won a main draw match at Wimbledon before this year, but the world number seven tenaciously saw off Vekic in two hours and 51 minutes to secure a second successive Grand Slam final appearance.

The 28-year-old, who lost the French Open final to Iga Swiatek last month, is the first Italian woman to reach the Wimbledon final.

Paolini, who also made the Australia Open last 16 in January, had not gone past the second round in any Slam before this year.

Without a win at the All England Club heading into the tournament, Paolini now has six victories under her belt and has dropped just two sets in the process.

“The last months have been crazy for me. It is a dream. I was watching finals when I was a kid on this Wimbledon,” she said.

“You know there is no place better than here to fight for every ball and every point. I will remember this forever.”

Vekic paid the price for 57 unforced errors, with the semi-final fittingly ending on another wild forehand from the unseeded Croatian.

Unable to contain her frustration at letting 3-1 and 4-3 leads slip in the last set, Vekic broke down in tears in the closing stages of a rollercoaster clash.

“I was crying because I had so much pain. I didn’t know how I could keep playing,” Vekic said.

“I thought I was going to die in the third set. I had so much pain in my arm, in my leg.”

Topics mentioned in this article

Barbora Krejcikova
Elena Rybakina

Tennis

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