Barbora Krejcikova made an impressive comeback to secure her first Wimbledon final appearance, defeating former champion Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Thursday.
Rybakina, from Kazakhstan, dominated the first set with her aggressive style, quickly establishing a 5-1 lead. Despite losing the first set, the 2021 French Open champion Krejcikova managed to break Rybakina in the sixth game of the second set and leveled the match.
With momentum on her side, the Czech player took control in the final set, breaking Rybakina in the seventh game. She secured three match points with a smash at the net and celebrated her victory when Rybakina hit a backhand return long.
Krejcikova will face seventh seed Jasmine Paolini in the final. Paolini reached the final after a marathon match against Donna Vekic, becoming the first Italian woman to reach a Wimbledon final. Paolini triumphed 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(8) in the longest women’s semi-final at Wimbledon.
In a thrilling encounter, Vekic initially took control, winning the first set comfortably. However, Paolini responded with aggressive play in the second set, breaking Vekic and leveling the match. The decider saw both players exchanging breaks and racking up unforced errors. Despite looking fatigued, Paolini’s perseverance paid off as she won the two-hour, 51-minute match, reaching her second consecutive Grand Slam final after the French Open.
This sets up an exciting Wimbledon final between Krejcikova and Paolini, with both players showcasing remarkable resilience and determination.
