Barbora Krejcikova Beats Jasmine Paolini to Make Wimbledon History

Tennis has officially entered a new era of diversity and competition. As a generation of greats leave the sport, a vast field of players is making dynastic runs impossible.
On Saturday afternoon, Barbora Krejcikova became the eighth woman to win the Wimbledon ladies' singles title in the past eight years. She is also the second Czech player to win in as many years.
A dream realised ✨
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2024
Barbora Krejcikova is a #Wimbledon singles champion for the first time, defeating Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 🇨🇿 🏆 pic.twitter.com/k15QgL7Buz
Krejcikova defeated fan-favorite Jasmine Paolini in three sets: 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. After the match, Krejcikova was overcome with emotions and took a moment to find the right words.
Krejcikova spoke from Centre Court, "Hello, everybody. I don't have any words right now. It's just unbelievable what just happened. It's definitely the best day of my tennis career and the best day of my life."
"I still cannot believe it"
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2024
Barbora Krejcikova is in pure disbelief that she's a #Wimbledon singles champion pic.twitter.com/Bx06T7ljWW
She continued, "It's super difficult to explain what I'm feeling right now. I would like to congratulate Jasmine and her team. She had a great two weeks. It was a great final."
Krejcikova concluded, "We were just fighting for every single ball. At the end, I was the lucky one. On the other hand, she played the Roland Garros final just a few weeks ago. It's amazing what she was able to achieve in such a short period. Big congratulations."
She did it, Jana 💕
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2024
Barbora Krejcikova follows in the footsteps of her late coach and mentor, 1998 #Wimbledon champion Jana Novotna 🇨🇿 🫶 pic.twitter.com/auiZfVJT4v
Krejcikova credited the late tennis legend Jana Novotna for her influence. "Jana was the one who told me I had the potential and that I should definitely turn pro and try to make it. Before she passed away, she told me to go and win a slam. I achieved it already in Paris in 2021. It was an unbelievable moment for me. I never dreamed I'd win the same trophy as Jana did in 1998."
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Further Reading: Fans booed Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon for supporting Spain in EURO 2024.

Pat Benson covers professional tennis for Serve on Sports Illustrated, reporting on ATP and WTA events worldwide. From Challenger tournaments to Grand Slams, he brings readers in-depth coverage, daily recaps, and exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in the sport. With a decade of experience in sports journalism, Pat is recognized as a trusted voice in tennis media. You can contact him at 1989patbenson@gmail.com.
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