Historic Wimbledon Final: Krejcikova vs Paolini
The Wimbledon tournament is set to crown a new champion today as the surprising Barbara Krejcikova from the Czech Republic faces off against Italy's Jasmine Paolini. This marks their first-ever meeting in the main draw of a major tournament, with Paolini entering as the favorite based on recent performances and rankings. Despite needing a thrilling match to make it to the semifinals against Donna Vekic, Paolini has become the first Italian in the open era to reach the Wimbledon final. This year, she has made it to finals on grass, hard surfaces, and clay, having lost to Iga Swiatek in the Roland Garros final.
Paolini, who dreams of her first career Grand Slam title, will move up to the top 5 in the world rankings next week, becoming the highest-ranked Italian since her good friend and doubles partner Sara Errani in 2013. She has had a breakthrough year, being the first tennis player since Serena Williams in 2016 to qualify for both the Wimbledon and Roland Garros finals in the same year. On the other hand, Krejcikova, the 2021 Roland Garros champion, aims to become the fourth Czech ever to win the All England Club and the second in a row after Marketa Vondrousova's magical journey last year.
The Match Progress
The match began with Paolini showing hesitation, making a mistake in the opening game which Krejcikova capitalized on to break her serve. Krejcikova then held her serve smoothly. In the third game, Krejcikova had two break chances again, but Paolini saved one with a great drop shot and then capitalized on her opponent's mistakes to narrow the score to 2:1.
The anticipation for this historic final is palpable, especially among Italian tennis fans. In Versilia, Paolini's hometown, the Tc Italia club in Forte dei Marmi has set up a giant screen for members to follow the match together. The club's owner, Sergio Marrai, expressed the pride and excitement felt by those who have known Paolini for years. Similarly, in Bagni di Lucca, where Paolini began her tennis journey, the Municipality has set up a giant screen at the Mirafiume Tennis Club. The local community, including the mayor Paolo Michelini, is eagerly awaiting the match, though Paolini's grandmother Ivonne prefers to watch the match alone from home.
- In Forte dei Marmi, the Tc Italia club has been buzzing with excitement since the morning, with members gathering to watch the match on a giant screen. Sergio Marrai, the club's owner, highlighted the special atmosphere and the emotional connection the community has with Paolini.
- In Bagni di Lucca, Jasmine Paolini's hometown, the anticipation is equally high. The Municipality has set up a giant screen at the Mirafiume Tennis Club, where Paolini first picked up a racket as a child. The local community, including mayor Paolo Michelini, is thrilled to support their local hero. However, Paolini's grandmother Ivonne prefers the solitude of her home to watch her granddaughter's historic match.
