Krejcikova struggles to lift her second Grand Slam

Fernando Murciego | 13 Jul 2024 | 16.58

Barbora Krejcikova. Photo:getty

Streaming WTA Newport WD live tennis

🎾 Raina/Thombare vs Shymanovich/Volynets

Sign up with Bet365 here
Make your first deposit of at least €5
Go to the “Live” section and watch every match

Watch the match on Bet365

The wait was worth it. Three years after winning Roland Garros and going through all the pressures that entails, Barbora Krejcikova closed a chapter this Saturday by conquering the title at Wimbledon. She had to grit her teeth against Jasmine Paolini in a duel that went to the third set (6-2, 2-6, 6-4), but it was precisely there where she showed the most serenity, where she truly demonstrated which of the two played with the cushion of being a Grand Slam champion. A title that closes a temporary wound and returns her to the main stage.

Some who claim to be 'experts' had been criticizing the women's final at Wimbledon 2024 in recent days. Did a Paolini-Krejcikova final mean a poor outcome for the professional circuit? We are talking about a Roland Garros champion and former world No. 2 facing the woman with the most Grand Slam victories this season. After a resounding answer to this doubt, the only thing left to see was if the match would be remarkable or if it would be nullified by either of the two contenders. That is, if one's style would dominate the opponent to the point where trophies were already distributed in 70 minutes. This notion, always in the air, gained considerable weight after what was seen in the first set.

Where Krejcikova, much looser in her movements and powerful in her shots, delivered a 6-2 lead against the Italian, confirming that grass is a surface that fits perfectly with her pattern, that blend of power, spin, and counterattack that she usually puts into practice whenever she steps onto the court. There was no contest in this first assault, as there was none in the stands either. For whatever reason, the British crowd was fully behind Jasmine, a woman who, with her 1.60m height, has been proving all season that there is no physical barrier that can hinder her ambition. Now it was only necessary to put theory into practice, to double her efforts so as not to leave with the same taste in her mouth as a month ago in Paris.

These beautiful words that sound so nice in the text do not always come true, but a Italian player's walk through the locker room to reset her thoughts helped make it a reality. It was quickly seen in her starting attitude in the second set, much more committed, confident, even exerting pressure with a couple of shouts at key points to show Barbora that the victory was not a done deal. The tennis aspect froze at times, and the character of both players took precedence, particularly the character of a Paolini who was willing to give her all to force a third set. She grew so much that she even managed to replicate the same score: 6-2.

THE FINAL DETAIL

It's complicated to explain how a match can change so much in such a short time. Paolini, who couldn't let go throughout the first set, was now flying on the Centre Court, playing as if alone. And Krejcikova, who seemed headed for a solid, quick, and fleeting victory, suddenly walked with a worried expression, as if she had been overwhelmed by the situation, as if she had completely lost the script of the final. An emotional back and forth by both that had to be resolved in a completely unexplored third act, with no favoritism for either.

Since neither wanted to lose, the only solution was to reach 3-3 in the third set and wait for an error, a minimal step back that would give the rival an advantage. That mistake was made by Paolini with her serve, a double fault that represented the first break of the set and gave wings to Krejcikova, who would then confirm it with a game lasting just a minute and a half. Still, the Italian forced the Czech to close it all with her serve if she was truly deserving of the title. And so she did, suffering more in that game than in the entire match but sealing an unforgettable day that makes her the new Wimbledon champion. Wherever she is, Jana Novotna would be proud of her pupil.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Krejcikova sufre para levantar su segundo Grand Slam

WTA