Barbora Krejcikova outlasted Jasmine Paolini on Saturday to win her second career Grand Slam singles title.
Krejcikova needed three match points to overcome a fierce fightback from Paolini but eventually defeated the Italian tennis star 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 in the Wimbledon women's final in London.
Moments after winning the prestigious title for the first time, Krejcikova said she hoped her victory at the All England Club would make the late Jana Novotná proud.
“The only thing that was going through my head,” Krejcikova said of that moment, “was that I miss Jana so much. It was very, very emotional… I think she would be proud.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Barbora Krejcikova of Czech Republic poses with the singles trophy after her victory against Jasmine Paolini of Italy during Wimbledon 2024 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 13, 2024 in London. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Krejcikova grew up admiring Novotná, the 1998 Wimbledon champion. Novotná and Krejcikova are both originally from the Czech Republic. Novotná once encouraged Krejcikova to continue playing tennis and predicted she would one day win a Grand Slam.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC ABRUPTLY ENDS INTERVIEW BECAUSE OF REPEATED QUESTIONS ABOUT WIMBLEDON AUDIENCE
Even after holding on to win on her third match point, Krejcikova insisted that no one — not her friends, not her family, not even herself — would believe what she had accomplished. It was, after all, relatively unlikely, given that she dealt with a back injury and illness this season and her record in 2024 was just 7-9 going into the grass-court tournament.
Barbora Krejcikova of Czech Republic celebrates winning match point against Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in a singles semi-final match at Wimbledon 2024 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 11, 2024, in London. (François Nel/Getty Images)
Krejcikova is the eighth woman to leave Wimbledon as the champion in the last eight editions of the tournament. Last year's unseeded champion, Marketa Vondrousova, is also from the Czech Republic. She lost in the first round last week.
Paolini, runner-up to Iga Świątek at the French Open last month, is the first woman since Serena Williams in 2016 to reach the finals of Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same season and the first since Venus Williams in 2002 to lose both.
“If I maintain this level,” Paolini said, “I think I can have the opportunity to do great things.”
Barbora Krejcikova, left, of the Czech Republic, holds her trophy after defeating Jasmine Paolini, right, of Italy, in the women's singles final at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
This match was as close as it gets.
As expected, the final game needed 14 points to decide, and Krejcikova had to fend off a couple of break chances. She eventually converted her third match point when Paolini missed a backhand.
“I was just telling myself to be brave,” said Krejcikova, who also owns seven Grand Slam titles in women's doubles, including two at Wimbledon, and three in mixed doubles.
During the trophy ceremony, Krejcikova spoke about Novotná's influence on her tennis life — and her life in general — as she did after her singles triumph in Paris in 2021.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
A journalist asked Krejcikova what she would like to say to Novotná now that they are both Wimbledon champions.
“I think I would turn the tables on her,” Krejcikova said with a smile. “I'd like to hear what she would say to me.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital Sports coverage on Xand subscribe to The Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
