Wimbledon day 11: Jasmine Paolini and Barbora Krejcikova set up surprise final

Barbora Krejcikova stunned 2022 champion Elena Rybakina to book a Wimbledon final against Jasmine Paolini and ensure there will be a different woman lift the Venus Rosewater Dish for an eighth consecutive Championships.

Paolini had been involved in a dramatic battle with a tearful Donna Vekic, who struggled to hold it together during a rollercoaster decider on Centre Court, which eventually went the way of the Italian in the longest women’s semi-final in Wimbledon history.

Rybakina then breezed through the first set of the second semi, but Krejcikova dug in and started to play her shots to force a third, where the Czech 31st seed prevailed.

It helped Krejcikova follow in the footsteps of late mentor Jana Novotna, the 1998 winner at the All England Club, by progressing into a maiden final in SW19 to keep up the tournament’s run of different winners in each of the last eight Championships.

An instant #Wimbledon classic.

Thank you @DonnaVekic and @JasminePaolini for entertaining us with your skill, passion and heart