"Nobody's going to believe I won Wimbledon" - Barbora Krejcikova jokes about how her home town in Czech Republic will react to her incredible SW19 win

Barbora Krejcikova joked about her miraculous triumph at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships after lifting the Venus Rosewater Dish in SW19. The Czech defeated Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 in a topsy-turvy thriller to win her second Grand Slam title on July 13.

Krejcikova had a disappointing start to the season and struggled to find her rhythm. Her issue with consistency persisted in the beginning of the grass swing where she reached the quarterfinals of the Rothesay Classic and faced a first-round exit at the Rothesay International.

Seeded 31st, the 28-year-old had to dig deep in her first two matches against Veronika Kudermatova and Katie Volynets at Wimbledon. She received a walkover against Jessica Bouzas after which she defeated Danielle Collins, Jelena Ostapenko, and Elena Rybakina to reach her maiden tournament final.

The former World No. 2 defeated Paolini in a three-set thriller that lasted for an hour and 56 minutes.

During the on-court interview, Barbora Krejcikova was asked what her win meant to her friends, family, and her nation to which she hilariously responded that no one would believe she won Wimbledon.

“Well, I think that I think nobody really believes it. I think nobody believes that I got to the final and I think nobody's going to believe that I won Wimbledon."

Krejcikova said that she wasn't in a great shape prior to the tournament and also had to deal with a hard match with Kudermatova in the opening round. The Czech mentioned that she wasn't happy with the start of her season but was surprised that she was now a Wimbledon champion.

"I mean, I still cannot believe it. It's unbelievable. I mean, just two weeks ago I started here, I, I had a very tough first match, 3 hours, 15, winning 7-5 in third set and, and I wasn't really in a good shape before that because I injured a nail and I didn't really have a good beginning of the season. And, I mean, it's unbelievable. I'm standing here and I am a Wimbledon winner. How that happen? I have no idea.”

Barbora Krejcikova becomes the 4th woman representing Czech Republic to win Wimbledon

Barbora Krejcikova celebrates winning Wimbledon (image source: GETTY)

Barbora Krejcikova became the fourth woman representing the Czech Republic to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish. She also won the French Open in 2021.

Krejcikova joined the likes of Marketa Vondrousouva, who won the title last year, Petra Kvitova, who won it twice: 2011 and 2014, and Jana Novotna, who clinched the title in 1998. Novotna was interestingly the 28-year-old's idol and her former coach as well. But her demise in 2017 brought an unfortunate end to their partnership.

Karolina Pliskova also reached the final in 2021 but lost to Ashleigh Barty.

Other Czech-born players to have won or reached the final of Wimbledon include nine-time winner Martina Navratilova (representing USA) and Hana Mandlikova, who reached the final in 1981 and 1986, representing Australia.