The 2024 Wimbledon ladies’ singles final is set. Jasmine Paolini of Italy, the No. 7 seed, won an epic three-setter over unseeded Croatian Donna Vekic, an instant classic that makes Paolini the first Italian woman to make a Wimbledon final in the Open Era. Then Barbora Krejcikova, the No. 31 seed from Czech Republic, upset 2022 champion and 2024 favorite Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, the No. 4 seed.
Krejcikova and Paolini, both in their first Wimbledon final and second Grand Slam final overall, will face off in the ultimate match on Saturday.
Krejcikova knocks off former champ Rybakina
Rybakina was considered the favorite to win Wimbledon this year — until Krejcikova entered the picture. She defeated Rybakina 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, who was practically being crowned the 2024 winner by the broadcast booth before the semifinal match even started.
Though early on, it looked like may have been right. Rybakina was dominating Krejcikova, pushing her all over the court. In a flash she was up 4-0 over Krejcikova, who then finally laid down a win to at least avoid being bageled in the first set of a Grand Slam. Even though it had barely started, Krejcikova’s hold on the entire match felt tenuous, like a stiff breeze could have knocked her down and blown her away.
But something awoke in Krejcikova near the end of the first set. She began to play with more intent, and stopped letting Rybakina dictate the pace. Her surge came a little too late to make more than a tiny little dent in the first set result, but it was clear that we were going to see a different Krejcikova in the second set.
And that we did. Krejcikova won the first game, and then when Rybakina tied it 2-2, Krejcikova moved the car into high gear and ran right over Rybakina. She ripped off three straight wins to go up 5-2 and clinched the set after giving just one game back to Rybakina. Just like the match between Paolini and Vekic, this match was going the distance after two contentious sets.
The final set was all about Krejcikova standing her ground. All she needed to do was continue to play her kind of tennis and wear Rybakina down. In the end, that’s why Krejcikova won. She was able to be consistent, especially with her serves, while Rybakina was unable to do that, especially with her serves — specifically her first serve, which seriously failed her at critical times during the match.
Paolini withstands serious challenge from Vekic
Both women’s semifinal matches went the distance on Thursday, though only the one between Paolini and Vekic set a duration record. Paolini defeated Vekic 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(8) in two hours and 51 minutes, longer than any other women’s semifinal in Wimbledon history.
The match started almost as a slog, with Vekic and Paolini spending several minutes mired in the very first game. Paolini eventually won, but the action didn’t really pick up until they were tied 2-2. Vekic won that game in record time, and then never looked back. She won the next four to take 1-0 match lead.
Vekic was scoring on Paolini almost at will in the first set, but Paolini finally found her dynamic first serve in the second set. Vekic stood her ground, but Paolini had a stronger hold, and Vekic started making errors at the worst possible time. With a roar, the 5-foot-4 Italian took the second set and evened the match at 1-1.
Paolini, who lost to Iga Swiatek in the French Open final just last month, came out flat in the third set. She had to dig deep to keep up, and it was really a war of attrition for them both. Paolini struggled with errors, and Vekic struggled with what appeared to be an injured right forearm on her racket side.
The injury coincided with a decline in Vekic’s serve, and Paolini was finally able to get an edge. She took her first lead of the third set at 5-4, but it didn’t last. Vekic kept on fighting, eventually tying the set at 6-6 and forcing a tiebreak for the whole match.
Even the tiebreak was close. Paolini finally pulled out the win after two hours and 51 minutes, the longest women’s semifinal match in the history of Wimbledon. She’s just the fifth woman in the Open Era to make the French Open and Wimbledon finals in the same year.
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Krejcikova is overwhelmed in her post-match interview, then breaks down when she’s asked about Jana Novotna, a Czech tennis player and Krejcikova’s longtime mentor. Novotna, who won Wimbledon 26 years ago, died of cancer in 2017, and Krejcikova still misses her deeply.
‘Couple years ago, I was working with Jana Novotna. She won it here in 1998. At that point, she was telling me a lot of stories about her journeys here & how she was trying to win Wimbledon. I was so far [away] when we had this talk. Now I’m here. I’m in the finals.’ pic.twitter.com/6B03a4PhyR
Barbora Krejcikova upsets favorite Elena Rybakina to make Wimbledon final
What a comeback from Barbora Krejcikova. After a challenging start, the No. 31 seed upsets No. 4 Elena Rybakina, who experiences only her third loss ever at Wimbledon.
Krejcikova now moves on to her first Wimbledon final!
Rybakina fights back against Krejcikova, who has really been on a roll. Down 5-4, Rybakina is still within striking distance, but a few errant points would put Krejcikova at match point.
We’ve really got a match going in the third set. Rybakina is up 3-2 after rediscovering her first serve. Just 52% of her first serves landed in bounds over the second set. Thus far in the third set, she’s at 81
Rybakina had a brief surge to challenge Krejcikova at the end of the set, but Krejcikova held firm to take the set 6-3 and force a decider.
The match held before Rybakina and Krejcikova also went three sets. Jasmine Paolini won what ended up being the longest women’s semifinal match in Wimbledon history. Hopefully this one doesn’t break that record.
Krejcikova is slowly but surely taking control of this set. She first took a 3-2 lead over Rybakina, and then a 4-2 lead. For her part, Rybakina has let loose a stream of unforced errors that have greatly impacted her results.
A half-hour ago, it looked like Krejcikova was toast. Now she’s got the crowd behind her and Rybakina struggling to keep up.
Barbora Krejcikova finally held serve. She made a dent in the deficit between her and Rybakina, but the surge came just a bit too late. Rybakina finally sealed the set 6-3, breaking Krejcikova three times.
Krejcikova has now broken Rybakina twice in the first set, but is down 5-2. That’s tennis.
Barbora Krejcikova is in trouble at the Wimbledon semifinals. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
Rybakina has been absolutely dominating Krejcikova, who didn’t win her first game until after Rybakina had won four. Krejcikova is down 5-1, but she’s not giving up. She’s trying to steal at least one more game from Rybakina in the first set.
Rybakina has everything going early. After just 14 minutes, she’s up 3-0 over Krejc
It’s time for Rybakina vs. Krejcikova
The second women’s semifinal match is up now, between No. 4 Elena Rybakina and No. 31 Barbora Krejcikova.
Rybakina, who was born in Russia but plays for Kazakhstan, won Wimbledon in 2022. Krejcikova, who is from Czech Republic, won the 2021 French Open, but is also an accomplished doubles player. She’s won the doubles trophy at all four Grand Slams.
Paolini is absolutely irresistible. She’s been on the tour for a decade and is finally breaking through. She’s made more prize money today than in her entire career so far. She knows she’s doing something incredible, and she’s trying to enjoy every single second.
‘I think these last months have been crazy for me. I have still to realize, I think. But I’m trying just to focus on what I have to do on court, just enjoying what I’m doing, because I love playing tennis. It’s amazing to be here, playing on this stadium. It’s a dream.’ pic.twitter.com/7CyuvctUGj
After a punishing match that lasted nearly three hours, Paolini becomes the first Italian woman to make the Wimbledon final in the Open Era. She defeats Donna Vekic 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(8).
VEKIC HAS TIED IT!
We’re onto a tiebreak! First to 10 wins. There is no favorite. Let’s go!
Vekic. Is. Still. Fighting. Facing match point, she uncorked a glorious line-hugger that skipped right past Paolini. Now she’s got the advantage and is one point away from forcing a tiebreak.
Paolini goes up 6-5 after an intense game that lasted 10-plus minutes. Paolini was up 30-0 but Vekic managed to climb all the way back and tie at 40-40. Five deuces later, Paolini emerged victorious after a well-timed challenge that overturned a call that would have brought them to deuce no. 6.
Paolini was facing match point, but Vekic is still fighting. She managed to stave off elimination to tie the match 5-5, but appears to be in some pain.
It looks like Vekic is having an issue with her right forearm, which is her racket side. She needed to ice it during the last changeover, and is constantly stretching out her wrist and fingers between points. That might explain why her first serves have taken a sharp decline in quality over the last few games.
Paolini has tied the third set 3-3 against Vekic! At this point, either player could take it. They both have enough tools to win, but the big question is whether they have the stamina to keep up this level of play all the way through to the end.
Vekic’s attempts to take a solid lead over Paolini continue be thwarted, though Vekic is still up a break and is currently on serve. Paolini will need to break Vekic soon if she wants to have a chance.