Tennis - Mystery with Tears: Paolini versus Krejcikova for Wimbledon Victory
Wimbledon gets a First-Time Champion: After the longest Women's Semifinal in tournament history and an upset, Jasmine Paolini plays Barbora Krejcikova in the final. Paolini fought in a fierce and tense duel for over 2 hours and 51 minutes to narrowly defeat Donna Vekic from Croatia 2:6, 6:4, 7:6 (10:8).
Subsequently, Krejcikova unexpectedly defeated Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan 3:6, 6:3, 6:4. The fourth-ranked Rybakina had triumphed in Southwest London earlier this year and was considered a favorite after impressive performances.
Paolini and Krejcikova face off in their first Final at the prestigious Grass tournament on Saturday. However, in the Doubles, Krejcikova is already a two-time Wimbledon champion. "It's incredible," said Krejcikova: "It's very hard to explain what I'm feeling right now. I'm so proud of my game and my fighting spirit."
Paolini, like Williams
Paolini became the first tennis player since US-Star Serena Williams in 2016 to reach the Wimbledon Final just a few weeks after the French Open. The agile, 1.63-meter-tall Paolini fought back from behind in the decisive set and had match points at 5:4 and 6:5. In the Tiebreak, she kept her nerves and became the first Italian woman in the Open Era since 1968 to reach the Wimbledon Final.
"Crazy"
"I will always remember this match. The last months have been crazy for me," said Paolini, who was the first Italian Wimbledon Semifinalist, after an "emotional rollercoaster": "It's a dream."
Paolini's path to the top reads impressively. Before this season, she had not advanced beyond the second round at any Grand Slam tournament. In Wimbledon, she had previously not won a single Main Draw match.
Tears and Pain for Vekic
Vekic, who briefly considered taking a break from tennis before the French Open, cried during the match. At the subsequent press conference, the 28-year-old had to suppress her tears. "I had such pain in my arm and my leg," she said after her first Grand Slam Semifinal: "I cried more because of the pain, I didn't know how to continue."
Paolini's victory over Vekic in the semifinals marked her first appearance in a Wimbledon final, making her the first Italian woman to achieve this since 1968. This remarkable achievement came just a few weeks after she reached the French Open semifinals as well.
The United Kingdom's prestigious Wimbledon tournament saw Barbora Krejcikova emerge as the unexpected champion after defeating the fourth-ranked Elena Rybakina in the final. This victory marked Krejcikova's second Wimbledon title in the doubles category.
Tennis fans from around the world, including those from Germany and Croatia, eagerly watched as the final match between Paolini and Krejcikova unfolded in London. Despite Paolini's impressive performance, Krejcikova came out on top, adding another title to her illustrious tennis career.
Vekic's heartbreaking loss in the semifinals to Paolini was a setback in her ambitious tennis journey. The Croatian player, who had a tough match with pain in her arm and leg, expressed her emotions during the match and at the subsequent press conference.
The endgame of this year's Wimbledon tournament saw Krejcikova lift the trophy once again, proving her prowess on the grass courts of the United Kingdom's capital city. This victory was a testament to her fighting spirit and determination to succeed, inspiring other tennis players around the world.
