“Nobody would have guessed this” – Martina Navratilova lauds Barbora Krejcikova & Jasmine Paolini as duo set up 'unreal' Wimbledon 2024 final

Martina Navratilova expressed her excitement as Barbora Krejcikova and Jasmine Paolini reached the Wimbledon 2024 Final. Navratilova lauded their efforts and said they were playing "great tennis".

Krejcikova and Paolini surprised the tennis world after reaching the final at Wimbledon. Neither were favorites coming into the tournament, with Krejcikova having a disappointing season since reaching the quarterfinals at the 2024 Australian Open. The Czech had a 3-8 win-loss record since the Melbourne Slam.

Paolini, on the other hand, had not won any main draw matches at SW19, losing in the first round in her previous two appearances.

Martina Navratilova, who has won 32 titles on grass courts, including nine Wimbledon titles, was surprised by the finals lineup and wrote on X (formerly Twitter):

"Unreal. Nobody would have guessed this final- amazing! These two are playing some great tennis"

---

Barbora Krejcikova and Jasmine Paolini's path to

Wimbledon final

Wimbledon Ladies single's trophy (Image via Getty)

Barbora Krejcikova started her Wimbledon campaign with a close victory over Veronika Kudermetova 7-6(4), 6-7(1), 7-5. She followed it up with another close victory in the second round against Katie Volynets 7-6(6), 7-6(5). Her third-round opponent Jessica Bouzas Maneiro retired mid-match, sending the Czech into the second week at SW19.

In the fourth round, the 2021 French Open champion faced a red-hot Danielle Collins and defeated her 7-5, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals for the first time at the grass court Major. In the quarterfinals, she defeated a strong opponent in Jelena Ostapenko 6-4, 7-6(4) to set up a mouth-watering clash with 2022 champion Elena Rybakina.

The Kazakh started the match strong by winning the first set, but could not carry the momentum throughout the match. Krejcikova defeated Rybakina 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the final.

Jasmine Paolini, meanwhile, started her campaign against Sara Sorribes Tormo with a 7-5, 6-3 win, before defeating Greet Minnen 7-6(5), 6-2 in the second. In the third round, the Italian saw off Bianca Andreescu with a 7-6(4), 6-1 victory.

She faced a tough challenge in the fourth round against Madison Keys but the American got injured mid-match and had to retire, handing Paolini a place in the quarterfinals. The Italian had a stronger showing in the quarterfinals against Emma Navarro and won the match 6-2, 6-1.

In the final four, the 2024 French Open finalist came back from behind to defeat Donna Vekic in a three-set thriller. She won 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(8), in a match that lasted two hours and 51 minutes and became the longest women's semifinal in the tournament's history.

Krejcikova and Paolini will face each other on July 13 as they fight for the prestigious Venus Rosewater Dish at the Wimbledon 2024 Final.