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And from Italy, it is the no7 seed Jasmine Paolini. What a 2024 she has enjoyed – the 28-year-old only made it beyond the second round of a major for the first time at Melbourne in January. From there, her run has included the French final (swept away in straight sets by Iga Świątek) now getting to the decider today on grass – a surface she had never won a main-draw match on until this year, thrice bundled out in the opening round at SW19. If the pocket rocket salutes here it would be one of the great tales.
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So, there we have it. Oh, the only time these two have met? That was at the 2018 Australian Open qualifying event! How far they have both come. A fun afternoon awaits! Play begins 2pm.
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You can talk to me throughout 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.
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Finals day feels 😄#Wimbledon | @JasminePaolini | @BKrejcikova pic.twitter.com/fYUIAYUXjq
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2024
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Important Events
“I want the memories of that day to be positive.” “It’s a tough day,” Ashleigh Barty said, referring to the tension players are experiencing right now as they make the short walk down the steps to Centre Court. Barty’s point is that you have to surrender to this and understand that this isn’t just another day. It’s not.
Another strange thing. Whatever happens, it will be the seventh year in a row that a new women’s champion will be crowned — the last time an existing winner hoisted the trophy was Serena Williams in 2016.
“I love Paolini’s upbeat energy,” writes Dennis O’Brien. “She’s a lot of fun, so I hope she wins!”
And there’s Ashleigh Barty with you. The Australian superstar who won this tournament three years ago (it feels like yesterday), Barty talks about her smile and joy on TV. “There’s an innocence about her, almost.”
Krejcikova’s journey to the final was a difficult one. While Paolini did not face a player ranked higher than her, the 31st seed did beat three players ranked higher than her: Danielle Collins (seeded 11th), Jelena Ostapenko (seeded 13th) and Rybakina (seeded 4th), who was the favorite to win when the field was narrowed down to four.
After losing the first set 6-3 to Rybakina, she won the next two 6-3 and 6-4, using every angle, slice and backhand to win. This final is very well put together with players of very contrasting styles.
Jasmine Paolini is on a roll. She’s only the fourth woman this century to reach the French Open and Wimbledon finals in the same year. The other three are Justine Henin, Serena Williams and Venus Williams. The last, of course, was Serena in 2016. From there to the semi-final in Eastbourne and then what she’s done in the last two weeks. Of course, Madison Keys was a little unlucky to have to retire at 5-5 in the third set in her fourth-round match, but you have to make the best of it. And she did.
Her last match, on Thursday, was epic: After being broken (and giving up match point) in the deciding third set against unseeded Donna Vekic, Paolini weathered it, broke back and forced a tiebreak, eventually winning 10-8, after nearly three hours in what was the longest women’s Wimbledon semifinal in history.
Standing just 5ft 4in tall, she puts plenty of topspin on her forehand and moves quickly across the court when the pressure is on.
Heartfelt love to the late Jana Novotna. The 1998 singles champion here (and four-time doubles champion), she was Krejcikova’s coach and mentor until her death from cancer in 2017 at the age of 49.
“A few years ago I was working with Jana Novotna. She won here in 1998. At that point she told me a lot of stories about her journey here and about trying to win Wimbledon. I [away] “When I say this, I’m here and I’m like, wow, I’m in the final,” Krejcikova said, taking a breath to calm herself.
“I have so many great memories. When I step on the court here, I just give my all to every ball because I know that’s what my mom would have wanted. I miss her so much.”
Great stuff from the BBC. Their article starts with two Wimbledon players, Billie Jean King (six singles titles) and Martina Navratilova (nine!). And they actually talk about doubles, with Krejcikova’s journey as the backdrop, and how it helps the world’s top players stay sharp and focused. Navratilova has an old-fashioned mindset: “If you’re not fit enough to play doubles, you’re not fit enough to win singles.” And King adds that when she beat Chris Evert in the 1973 final, she was more excited about winning doubles. And she won doubles. Amazing.
A longer preview of SW19 can be found here Via Tumaini Carayol.
preamble
Adam Collins
Another incredible final is unfolding in the wonderful world of modern women’s Grand Slam tennis. In the Czech Republic’s corner is Barbora Krejcikova. Until much later in her career, she was a doubles virtuoso teaming up with Katerina Siniakova to win it all. But in 2021, a shocking victory at Roland Garros changed everything. Despite reaching world number two in 2022, until this week the Jana Novotna protégé had never made it beyond the quarterfinals of another Grand Slam. But Krejcikova kept her cool to beat fourth-seeded Elena Rybakina in an upset, earning her a rare chance to lift another big trophy.
And from Italy, we have Jasmine Paolini, the seventh seed. 2024 has been a great year. The 28-year-old Paolini’s first time getting past the second round of a major was in Melbourne in January. From there, she has been on a winning streak that includes a French final (losing in straight sets to Iga Swiantek) and today’s grass final. She had never won in the main draw before this year and has lost her opening round three times at SW19. It would be one of those great stories if the pocket rocket wins here.
So, here’s the story. The only time these two have played against each other was in 2018 at the Australian Open. Qualifying EventsI’m glad you both made it this far. I look forward to a fun afternoon! The match will start at 2pm.
Feel free to talk to me as usual. I’m still active. The worst website in the world (Don’t ask me why, but I’m never leaving) If that’s your style.
Final exam day mood 😄#Wimbledon | @Jasmine Paolini | translation: pic.twitter.com/fYUIAYUXjq
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2024
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