Barbora Krejcikova stunned favourite Elena Rybakina to set up a Wimbledon final against Jasmine Paolini.
The Czech 31st seed recovered from losing the first set to beat the former champion 3-6 6-3 6-4 in drama-filled day of women’s semi-final action in SW19.
Krejcikova will hope to follow in the footsteps of fellow Czech Marketa Vondrosouva, who was became the first unseeded winner last year.
Meanwhile, Rybankina’s defeat means there will be an eighth different champion in eight years.
▪ Jana Novotna
▪ Petra Kvitova
▪ Karolina Pliskova
▪ Marketa Vondrousova
▪ Barbora Krejcikova @BKREJCIKOVA becomes the fifth Czech woman to reach a #WIMBLEDON singles final in the Open Era 🇨🇿 PIC.TWITTER.COM/L4OVDOLMMW— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) JULY 11, 2024
Krejcikova made a disastrous start as she slumped to 0-4 and had to wait until her eighth game to hold serve.
But she found her composure and despite losing the first set, came roaring back in the second, which she claimed in an up-and-down final game which saw her double fault while at 40-0.
Rybankina regrouped in the third set but was then up against a confident opponent, with Krejcikova making the breakthrough in the seventh game before seeing out the contest.
“(There’s) a lot of joy, a lot emotions. Also a lot of relief and I’m just super proud”, the 28-year-old said.
“I was down, I started 0-4, I was happy that I won the first game.
“I started to be in the zone and I didn’t want to leave the zone.”
Our 2024 ladies’ singles final is set ✨#WIMBLEDON PIC.TWITTER.COM/A2DJH0QIVG
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) JULY 11, 2024
Paolini wins thriller
Her opponent Paolini is the first Italian to reach the final of Wimbledon after overcoming Croatian Donna Vekic in a two-and-a-half hour epic on Centre Court.
The thrilling semi-final was decided in a final-set tie-break, with Paolini coming through 10-8 after previously missing two match points.
After two hours and 51 minutes of play – which makes it the longest ever women’s semi-final at Wimbledon – the seventh seed claimed a thrilling 2-6 6-4 7-6 (10-8) win.
Made for the big stage 🤩#WIMBLEDON | @JASMINEPAOLINI PIC.TWITTER.COM/V25ZMBONVI
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) JULY 11, 2024
Paolini, who had never won a match at SW19 before this year, said: “I think these last months have been crazy for me.
“I don’t know, I am just trying to focus on what I have to do on court and enjoying what I am doing.
“I love playing tennis. It is a dream. I was watching finals when I was a kid at Wimbledon. I am just enjoying it and trying to live in the present.”
