Krejcikova channels Novotna in stunning upset of Rybakina

For the first 10 days of this year's tournament, it felt as if the name of Elena Rybakina would be engraved on the women's singles trophy for the second time in three years.

- Simon Cambers

B Krejcikova 3 6 6

E Rybakina 6 3 4

The Kazakhstani player had rolled into the semis for the loss of just one set and looked for all the world as if she would add the title to the one she claimed so brilliantly in 2022.

Barbora Krejcikova had other ideas. French Open champion in 2021, the Czech has struggled with injuries and illness in the past 12 months but the 28-year-old found a way to negate the power of Rybakina as she won 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the Wimbledon singles final for the first time. "It's unbelievable," an elated Krejcikova said. "It's a lot of joy, a lot of emotions, a lot of relief. I'm super proud about my game and my fighting spirit today. I was down 0-4 and I was happy I won a first game. I was just trying to fight for every single ball. I felt somewhere in the second set I was getting my momentum and when I broke her [for 4-2 in the second set] I started to be in the zone and I didn't want to leave the zone." Krejcikova is the seventh Czech woman to reach the final in the Open era, following Martina Navratilova, Hana Mandlikova, Jana Novotna, Petra Kvitova, Karolina Pliskova and last year's champion, Marketa Vondrousova.