Barbora Krejcikova tames Jelena Ostapenko to reach semi-finals

Latvian livewire Jelena Ostapenko blew herself out as Barbora Krejcikova reached her first Wimbledon semi-final.

Ostapenko had blitzed her way through the women’s draw, dropping only 15 games in four matches with a ferocious flurry of winners.

But when the unforced errors started to creep well above the winner count on Court One, Krejcikova was able to take advantage.

Look at what it means to Barbora Krejcikova and her team ❤️

A first semi-final for Barbora at #Wimbledon as she defeats Jelena Ostapenko 6-4, 7-6(4)! pic.twitter.com/mUFhnUASzj

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2024

A blink-and-you-miss-it quarter-final encounter did not feature a rally of more than eight shots, but Krejcikova made hers count in a 6-4 7-6 (4) victory to set up a last-four showdown with 2022 winner Elena Rybakina.

“I don’t have the words right now,” she said. “I was so much into the game I told myself I’m going to give it everything I have and I’m really happy that I did. It’s an unbelievable moment for me.”

The two former Roland Garros champions had contrasting starts to the match, Ostapenko racing through her first service game in less than two minutes and Krejcikova opening with two double faults.

But the 28-year-old Czech, who was still playing doubles late on Tuesday night, not only held serve but then broke Ostapenko in the next.

It proved pivotal with Krejcikova barely missing a first serve as Ostapenko, who had previously not dropped more than three games in a set at these Championships, found herself behind in a match for the first time.

Suddenly some of the fearsome groundstrokes which have been hitting the lines all fortnight were not finding their target.

Ostapenko would do well to get a sponsorship tie-up with a certain high-end