Barbora Krejcikova of Czechia poses with the Ladies' Singles Trophy following victory against Jasmine Paolini of Italy. GETTY IMAGES

Czechia’s Barbora Krejcikova clinched her second Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon on Saturday, defeating Italy's Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. The 31st seed broke down in tears when she saw her name etched on the same Centre Court honours board which also recognises the 1998 final victory of her childhood mentor Jana Novotna. Her win comes 26 years after Novotna, who died of cancer in 2017 at the age of 49, claimed the Wimbledon title after two runners-up finishes.

"Before she passed away, she told me to go and win a Slam. I did that in Paris in 2021 but I never dreamed of winning the same trophy that Jana did," said the 28-year-old Krejcikova, who secured the title in a nervy final service game on a third championship point.

"It's unreal what just happened. The best day of my tennis career and the best day of my life.”



Novotna coached Krejcikova from 2014 until 2017, when she died of ovarian cancer. Novotna was a Wimbledon champion in 1998 but only after losing the finals at the All England Club in 1993 and 1997.

The 2021 French Open champion, who returns to the top 10 following her victory, came into Wimbledon after a back injury and illness which saw her without a win from February until June. The Czech has also been without a full-time coach since she sacked Ales Kartus in July of last year.


Barbora Krejcikova of Czechia celebrates with her Player's Box following her victory. GETTY IMAGES
Barbora Krejcikova of Czechia celebrates with her Player's Box following her victory. GETTY IMAGES


"I was injured and ill and didn't have a good start to the season and now I'm Wimbledon winner. How did that happen? I think nobody's going to believe I won Wimbledon. I still can't believe it. Two weeks ago (first round) I had a very tough match, 7-5 in the third set and I wasn't in good shape,” she said in disbelief. 

Paolini, the first Italian woman to reach a Wimbledon singles final, managed to claim just four points on the Czech's serve in the 35-minute opener. Breaks in the second and eighth games levelled the final after a set in which Krejcikova made 14 unforced errors to seven for her opponent, taking her double-fault count to a tournament-high of 33.



The Czech managed just four winners in the set as she went spectacularly off the boil. However, momentum shifted dramatically back in her favour in the decider when Paolini double-faulted to surrender a break and fall 3-4 behind. Krejcikova held to love for 5-3 but endured a nail-biting conclusion, requiring three championship points and saving two break points in the 10th game to seal the title.

With two Grand Slam titles under her belt, Krejcikova is due to team up with Katerina Siniakova for the Paris Olympics as the pair seek to defend their doubles title from Tokyo.