Krejcikova holds off Paolini to win Wimbledon title

LONDON :Barbora Krejcikova held off Italian crowd favourite Jasmine Paolini to win the Wimbledon singles title on Saturday, coming through 6-2 2-6 6-4 on a sunlit Centre Court.

The Czech doubles specialist had dominated the opening set with a near-perfect display but was then rocked by a dazzling Paolini fightback which sent the showpiece into a decider.

The momentum appeared to be with seventh seed Paolini, but a tight third set swung 31st seed Krejcikova's way when she broke serve at 3-3 courtesy of a double-fault.

Serving for the title at 5-4, Krejcikova just about held her nerve, wasting two match points and saving two break points before sealing victory at the third time of asking.

"I was just telling myself to be brave and if the game doesn't go my way it's still 5-5 and we continue," Krejcikova, who was watched by Czech-born nine-time singles champion Martina Navratilova, said when describing the nerve-shredding finale.

Before being presented with the trophy, the 28-year-old also paid tribute to her friend, mentor and fellow Brno native, 1998 Wimbledon champion Jana Novotna who died in 2017.

"Jana was the one that told me I have potential and that I should turn pro and before she passed away she told me to go and win a Grand Slam," said Krejcikova, who adds the Wimbledon title to her 2021 French Open triumph and also owns 10 Grand Slam doubles titles, including two at the All England Club.

While there were tears of joy for the Czech, it was heartache for the popular Paolini who lost the French Open final a few weeks ago and was bidding to become the first Italian to win a Wimbledon singles title.

"Today I am a little bit sad. I try to keep smiling because I have to remember today is still a good day, I made the final of