Barbora Krejcikova’s Wimbledon win was a delightful surprise to her fans as well as Barbora herself but how did it unfold?  

Krejcikova came into Wimbledon after fairly poor start to 2024 despite making the quarterfinals at the Australian Open. Since then, she had not won many matches at all after being sidelined with injury and illness. On a five-match losing streak, the grass season finally saw a change in her fortunes. She won two matches in Birmingham before bowing out in the quarterfinals but was then beaten in the first round at Eastbourne. 

Fans were in despair when the draw came out and she was paired against Veronica Kudermetova, someone who she had lost to 3 times in a row. She was also one of the highest ranked unseeded players. Indeed, this match ended up being one of the longest of the tournament at 3 hours 14 minutes, but it was an absolute crucial match, for Krejcikova‘s  confidence. In many ways this was the key match of her Wimbledon run, after failing to convert so many tight matches. This was one that she won 7-5 in the third but not before a disastrous service game when serving for the match at 5-4. Serving out would prove to be a recurring theme e in this title run. Barbora was super pumped for this match and was far more demonstrative on court than she usually is. Actually, this was something that was seen throughout this tournament. Her celebration after winning the match was like somebody who had won a tournament. Clearly an absolutely crucial match and arguably THE key match in this run. 

Round 2 Krejcikova was playing promising young American, Katie Volynets. This was a match that I was at Wimbledon for, and it was hard fought 7-6, 7-6 with very little in it in both sets. Krejcikova was not at her absolute best, but her ability to raise her level at key moments was evident. When it mattered – in the tiebreaks – she was the more clutch player. My fingernails were nibbled but very happy to see Barbora get a win. 

Round three and probably the only fairly easy match that Krejcikova had was against the unseeded Jessica Bouzas Maneiro who would put out the defending champion Marketa Vondrousova in round one. Krejcikova rolled through the first set 6-0, and while the second set was looking like it might be more competitive Maneiro picked up a back injury and was forced to retire. A much-needed quick match for Krejcikova who was also playing doubles in this rain affected tournament.  

Round four and another match that I was lucky enough to be at Wimbledon for was against the American Danielle Collins. The first match on a show court for Krejcikova , on number one court. A feature of this match was Barbora’s very good serving that would be key in the following matches. She was however also a little fortunate that Collins picked up a bit of an injury, but Krejcikova had already taken a competitive first set. This was also another match Krejcikova failed to serve out having been dominant on serve throughout the whole match. When it came to serving for the match at 5-2, she was broken, but on the positive side, then did break immediately back giving her a place in the quarterfinals and completing her achievement of reaching at least quarter-final at all four slams. 

The quarter-final match was another one where Krejcikova was the underdog. Back on court one again she was up against Jelena Ostapenko who had been romping through the tournament barely losing games This match was also where the sun had finally arrived after a fairly soggy Wimbledon! Once again serve was the key shot for Krejcikova, but she played such a smart match moving Ostapenko around using the width of the court. One of the things that was notable about Ostapenko‘s run to this point was how little distance she had actually run on the court. She is a stand and deliver type of player – shooting from the hip! Krejcikova started this match with two double faults but after that barely lost a point on serve the first set. This precision really was key in her tournament victory. In set two, Ostapenko got going and Krejcikova’s level dropped a little – something you just cannot do against such a destructive hitter as the Latvian.  Ostapenko took a 4-1 lead, and a third set looked likely. However, Barbara tightened up her game and went for the Ostapenko backhand. She battled back to 5-4 and serving for the match, however once again she could not put the match away. Some big hits from Ostapenko, but in many ways, the story of this Wimbledon run is how much easier it would have been if she has served out sets and matches more efficiently! That she still won the damn tournament is a huge testament to Krejcikova’s mindset. Anyhow, after failing to server it out, Krejcikova reset to ensure that the second set went all the way to a tiebreak. And what tiebreak it was! Absolutely fantastic retrieving from Krejcikova, and some brilliant shots right onto the line turning defence into attack when she needed not most. Ultimately, as dynamic as Ostapenko is, Krejcikova played a smart match, served well and even got a huge from the notoriously bad loser, Ostapenko! So, a semi-final was next, and the opponent was the much-fancied Elena Rybakina… 

Rybakina had been one of the favourites for the tournament from the very start and certainly by the time the top seeds and more fancied players had gone out, everyone was writing in her name as the dead cert champion. While she had been a fitness doubt due to a string of injuries but more worrying illness episodes, Rybakina had romped through, striking the ball well. Her only test had been against Krejcikova’s doubles partner, the obstinate German Laura Siegemund who had taken her to 3 sets in round 2.  

On a beautiful semifinals’ day, Centre Court had been lit up by a thrilling match between Jasmine Paolini and Donna Vekic, which the crowd had been very much involved in. Paolini had made the finals at Roland Garros just a few weeks earlier and her energetic play and outgoing positivity with that Italian charm and a huge smile just charmed the British tennis watching public. Krejcikova and Rybakina walked out, and I know I wasn’t alone thinking that this was probably going to be the end of what had been a terrific run for Barbora Krejcikova. This seemed to be confirmed as the match began with Rybakina on fire an Krejcikova looking helpless. In the blink of an eye, it was 4-0 double break to Rybakina. However, the first key moment in this match probably was right then. Rather than rolling over, Krejcikova broke Rybakina’s serve to get her first game but most importantly, sow seeds of doubt in Rybakina’s head. Rybakina’s serve is one of the best in the game – especially on grass, but while Krejcikova  lost that first set. It was 6-3, having broken Rybakina twice. Krejcikova took until the 8th game the match to hold her serve but did not get broken again in the rest of the match. I’ll say it again, the Krejcikova serve was the most crucial shot in the women’s draw at Wimbledon. 

Sets 2 and 3 went a similar pattern. Hold of serve, some of which were gritty from Krejcikova and then around the middle of the set, Krejcikova getting a break. Serving them out was quite a contrast though! At 5-3 Krejcikova really struggled to win that final game, with so many double faults on set point. Big yells of frustration from her – although incidentally, the yells and ‘Pojd!’s were very evident from Krejcikova this match. She looked so up for the battle – and considering she had been out playing doubles (and losing!) for about two and a half hours the evening before – not finishing until well past 8.30pm – maybe she needed to gee herself up! On the other hand, serving out the match was her most convincing of the entire tournament! Taking it to love, and to the absolute joy of her fans, Barbora Krejcikova was in the Wimbledon final! 

The final was a curious match, with shifts in momentum and tight moments without being that many times both played well at the same time. Krejcikova looked the calmer one before the match – well this was her 13th grand slam final across singles, doubles and mixed. Paolini definitely looked a little more overawed by the occasion. Krejcikova began brilliantly, using her forehand, moving Paolini around and her greater power, variety and weight of shot dominated the diminutive Italian. An excellent set of tennis for Krejcikova, 6-2. Paolini headed off for the customary ‘reset after losing a set’ bathroom break and did come out more determined. Krejcikova had also had time to sit and stew and realise the Wimbledon title was just a set away. She tightened up just a little, missed a couple of close shots and before you knew it, Paolini was 3-0 up. The set tightened up at that point but another loose game from Krejcikova at 2-5 handed the set to Paolini 6-2. So, this was it, one set to decide the title. Once again, the Krejcikova serve took centre stage. In the final set, she lost one point on serve to 5-4, 30-0 and that was a double fault. Krejcikova’s precision was back, her strategic play was back. The key break at 3-3 was classic Barbora, but a little bit panicking Paolini too. Ash Barty in commentary made the excellent observation that neither player had been broken when they held the first point of their service game. With Paolini serving, Barbora stared bringing her brilliant sweeping shots into play. The forehand to the Paolini forehand corner in particular, but in this game, her backhand to the backhand corner also pinned Paolini back and forced errors. Unfortunately for Jasmine, she queried a first serve and break point down which Hawkeye confirmed was long, but with that delay, sent her second server ballooning long and handed the crucial break.  

So, here we are with Krejcikova serving for the title. Awesome on serve the whole tournament and in this third set in particular. It’s 30-0… plain sailing, right? Of course not! A double fault and then her backhand just disappeared! She has serving for the Wimbledon title, so no surprise but if Krejcikova had lost this match, that game would have haunted her. It is very much the type of game that she had been losing in the months prior to Wimbledon. In that 5-match losing streak, Krejcikova was playing some nice tennis but when it got to key moments, she just made errors or failed to take chances. That this Wimbledon final came down to such a similarly moment? Well, it says so much about the mental strength and resilience of Barbora Krejcikova. Paolini had one great moment – and the only point she actually won to be honest, when a terrific return had Krejcikova scrambling at the net and she was able to put away a winner, but the final match point came off a poor return from Paolini. 

It had taken a while but once again her favourite wide serve into the ad court was the decisive shot as Paolini could barely get a racquet on it. It was the same serve that won her the Ostrava final against Iga in 2022, the semifinal here against Rybakina and now against Paolini to give Barbora Krejcikova the Wimbledon Singles title. 

It is hard to express my joy at this Wimbledon title for Krejcikova, made all the sweeter as this had been shaping up to be a tough season. Just 4 weeks previously, I had got over to the Edgbaston Priory Club to see Krejcikova play Daria Saville in Round 1 on a side court. Barbora had lost 5 matches in a row, and I was just saying my prayers she could scrape a win and break this streak. Now here she was on the biggest stage, taking her second grand slam singles title to add to her 7 doubles and 3 mixed doubles majors. It was just a joyous day. 

Oh, and to cap off a brilliant day, Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend won and absolutely brilliant women’s doubles final over Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe. This was Katka’s second slam of the year with her second partner – having won Roland Garros with Coco Gauff. Taylor Townsend is a terrific doubles player and her unbridled joy was a delight.