A new women's champion will be crowned at Wimbledon on Saturday when surprise finalists Jasmine Paolini and Barbora Krejcikova face each other in an intriguing encounter.
Paolini is vying to become Italy's first Wimbledon singles champion, while her opponent is hoping to continue the Czech Republic's proud record in the championships.
At 5ft 4in tall, Paolini would also be the shortest Grand Slam singles champion in the Open era, having never tasted victory in a main tour match on grass until this summer.
Krejcikova had only won three matches in five months before the tournament after struggling with illness and injury.
The two 28-year-olds have taken advantage of an open women's draw and are now one match away from lifting the famous Venus Rosewater Dish.
Whoever wins on Saturday, it is also guaranteed there will be a first-time Wimbledon champion for the seventh year in a row.
Fighter Paolini having incredible breakthrough season
Paolini, the first Italian woman to reach a Wimbledon final in the Open era, had lost in the opening round at SW19 in each of her three previous appearances.
But she has made up for lost time this fortnight and picked up new fans along the way with her athleticism and warm personality, even admitting after one match that she found time to do her nails before her semi-final.
Too scared to admit "winning Wimbledon was one of her dreams" until this week, her remarkable run was kickstarted at the French Open six weeks ago.
Paolini went beyond the third round of a major for the first time and eventually made it all the way to the final, losing to world number one Iga Swiatek.
At Wimbledon, the seventh seed has continued her fantastic form, storming to victory in her first three matches before her fourth round match against Madison Keys was ended abruptly by injury to the American.
Paolini took just 58 minutes to breeze past Emma Navarro in the quarter-finals and followed that up with an astonishing, record-breaking semi-final win over Donna Vekic.
Six-time singles champion Billie Jean King praised her shot-making afterwards, with 2021 champion Ash Barty remarking there is "no ball she doesn't run or fight for".
Source: BBC
BDST: 1330 HRS, JULY 13, 2024
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