Wimbledon winner!”
She’s asked about the late Jana Novotna, how important she was to her. “It changed my life. Jana was the one who told me I had the potential, should turn pro. Before she passed away she told me to go away and win a slam. I achieved that in Paris and it was an unbelievable moment for me and I never dreamed that I would win the same trophy as Jana did in 1998.”
Asked what she’s planning on doing tonight? She hasn’t worked that out. I don’t suppose she had a full night on the tiles arranged before winning the thing, so that’s a quite reasonable answer.
Wimbledon having never won a match on grass until this season. This story has a long way to run – she is the story of 2024.Wimbledon finals. Shifts of momentum, clutch shots, missed opportunities… wow. And a most worthy new champion – Barbora Krejcikova has a second slam; the second Czech woman in as many years to hold this trophy.
Wimbledon. And what a great start, a strong serve, puts away the forehand. Another great serve up the middle but Paolini is equal to it, a rally sets off – but the Italian misses her backhand long! 30-0. Double fault! Into the net; long. 30-15. Paolini must pounce right this second. And does! After Krejcikova shows a bit of vulnerability with a wayward ball toss, Paolini is into the rhythm of the rally quicker and gets a backhand error for her efforts. And another! Break back point! The tension, the drama. Krejcikova now the player needing to settle and does with a serve, approach, backhand volley. Deuce. This Czech right-hander is made of tough stuff – thumping a second serve are missing her first, forcing the error. Championship point. And misses… goes for the quick kill with the backhand and is out by a couple of feet. This isn’t over. Paolini makes sure of it with some stunning rearguard work in the backcourt, getting back bullet after bullet before getting to the net and slamming home a winner! Another break back point. Oh good grief, what a shot that is – Krejcikova with the weight of the world on her shoulders slamming another crosscourt forehand winner. She’s saving her best in this game for the toughest moments. Back to deuce. Ace out wide! Championship point no2! And is ever so close but denied; Paolini’s backhand slice clears the net by a centremetre and makes it into the court by even less – it turns the point. Deuce No4. Paolini now into the net with an unforced error! Third championship point coming up. And she’s done it! A huge serve out wide, the Italian can’t get it back. What a stunning final!
Wimbledon champion.Wimbledon have made it to a third set, Tim Salathiel advises me. Before the pandemic, the seven previous finals were all wrapped up in two.Wimbledon audience loves it, giving a huge ovation. And this time she closes it out, re-locating her big first serve. Tough hold.
“The Royal Box today is filled with women’s champions from years ending in 4,” Tim Salathiel tells me. “Maria Sharapova (2004), Conchita Martinez (1994) and Martina Navratilova (1984) are all there today. Only one missing – from what I can see – is Petra Kvitova (2014) – but she has a good excuse, having given birth to her first child, a son named Petr, on July 7 during the Championships.”
Wimbledon in the same year since the turn of the century – the others are Justine Henin, Serena Williams and Venus Williams. The last was Serena (of course) in 2016. From there to the semis at Eastbourne into what she’s achieved over the last fortnight. Sure, there was a bit of luck when Madison Keys had to pull out in their fourth-round clash at 5-5 in the third, but you’ve got to make the most of that and she has.
Her previous match evolved into an epic on Thursday. Up against the unseeded Donna Vekic, down a break in the deciding third set (and a match point) Paolini rode it out, broke back, got to the tie break and eventually won it 10-8. Nearly three hours later, it was the longest women’s Wimbledon semi-final ever played.
Standing at just 5’4”, she loads up her forehand with plenty of topspin and is rapid across the court when under pressure.
in the usual way. I’m also still active on the worst website in the world (don’t ask me why, but I’ll never leave) if that’s more your style.
