For the initial ten days of this year's tournament, Elena Rybakina seemed destined to repeat her previous triumph in women's singles for a third time within three years. However, Czech player Barbora Krejcikova had other plans and managed to reach the Wimbledon singles final after an impressive win over Rybakina on Thursday.
The 28-year-old French Open champion in 2021 has faced numerous challenges due to injuries and illnesses, but her determination prevailed as she claimed victory with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Krejcikova expressed her elation during the match, stating that it was an overwhelming experience filled with joy, emotions, and relief.
"It's unbelievable," said Krejicikova after reaching the final for the first time in her career. "I felt like I had to fight hard for every ball during the match because of my injuries, but once I gained momentum and broke Rybakina’s serve at 4-2 in the second set, it was just a matter of staying focused."
Krejicikova is now part of an elite group of seven Czech women who have made history in Wimbledon's Open era. Previous champions include Martina Navratilova, Hana Mandlikova, Jana Novotna, Petra Kvitova, Karolina Pliskova, and last year's winner Marketa Vondrousova.
Krejicikova shared a personal story of how she sought guidance from her former coach, the late Marta Navratilova, who won Wimbledon in 1998. She drew motivation from Novotna's words and expressed gratitude for their relationship, as well as reminiscing on fond memories.
The match between Krejicikova and Rybakina was a true battle on the court with both players displaying exceptional skill. At one point in the second set, when they were tied at 2-2, 30-40, Rybakina had an opportunity to break but ultimately fell short. Krejicikova's persistence and experience played a key role in securing her victory and advancing to face Paolini on Saturday for the title.
Krejicikova highlighted that she felt no pressure despite Rybakina winning all five of their previous encounters, stating: "I knew I had what it takes to win against Rybakina because we've played before and even though our most recent match was two years ago, the experience counts. It's now about giving my best performance on Saturday."
In her impressive journey towards the final, Krejicikova displayed tactics borrowed from doubles play, using them to disrupt Rybakina’s rhythm and ultimately secure a spot in the Wimbledon singles final for the first time.
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