In a thrilling culmination of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, claimed her first Wimbledon title by outlasting Jasmine Paolini in a roller-coaster match on Saturday. The 28-year-old from Czechia celebrated her victory by throwing her hands up in the air and pointing at the sky, a gesture that encapsulated her hard-fought journey to her second major singles title.
The match, which lasted nearly two hours, saw Krejcikova defeat the No. 7 seed and crowd favorite Paolini 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. The spectacle unfolded before an audience that included former champions such as Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, and Maria Sharapova, all watching from the royal box.
Krejcikova’s triumph marks her as the eighth woman to win the Wimbledon title since 2016. Her previous major singles victory was at the 2021 French Open. Known for her prowess in doubles, with 11 major titles in doubles and mixed doubles, Krejcikova had not advanced past the quarterfinals in singles at a Grand Slam since her win in Paris over three years ago. This season, she faced significant challenges, including a back injury, an illness, and a disappointing 0-4 record on clay. Entering Wimbledon, her ranking had fallen to No. 32, and she was given 100-1 odds to win the tournament by ESPN BET.
However, Krejcikova defied the odds, showing remarkable improvement with each match. She defeated No. 11 seed Danielle Collins and No. 13 seed Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets during the round of 16 and quarterfinals, respectively. In the semifinals, she overcame a first-set deficit to defeat the 2022 Wimbledon champion, Elena Rybakina, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Facing Jasmine Paolini in the final, Krejcikova controlled the opening set, winning 10 of the first 11 points and establishing a commanding 5-1 lead. Paolini, who had been a surprise runner-up at the 2024 French Open and had staged a dramatic comeback in the semifinals against Donna Vekic, showed resilience. After a bathroom break between sets, she stormed back to claim the second set 6-2.
In the decisive third set, the players traded games until Krejcikova broke Paolini’s serve at 3-all, following Paolini’s lone double fault of the match. Krejcikova then gained momentum, winning all four points in the next game, but she faced difficulty closing out the match. Ultimately, on her third match point, she secured her victory.
After the match, Paolini praised her opponent, acknowledging Krejcikova’s exceptional performance and tenacity. Krejcikova’s victory not only signifies a personal triumph after a challenging season but also cements her status as a formidable competitor in women’s tennis. As she lifted the Wimbledon trophy, Krejcikova’s journey from underdog to champion became an inspiring chapter in the storied history of the tournament.
