Wimbledon 2024 LIVE! Krejcikova vs Paolini latest score and updates from women's final
Wimbledon 2024 LIVE!
The women’s singles final takes centre stage at Wimbledon today as Barbora Krejcikova takes on Jasmine Paolini. It is a battle between the Czech former French Open champion and in-form Italian seventh seed, who has now reached back-to-back Grand Slam finals after producing another brilliant run at Roland Garros last month.
Paolini was eventually brushed aside by world No1 Iga Swiatek in a one-sided Paris showpiece, but suffered no lingering hangover from that emphatic loss as she first made the semi-finals at Eastbourne and now another major final, defeating the likes of Madison Keys, Emma Navarro and Donna Vekic along the way - the latter in the longest semi-final showdown in Wimbledon history.
Krejcikova, meanwhile, is a former world No2 and doubles No1 who won her only Grand Slam title to date at the French Open three years ago. She bounced back from an early deficit to stun favourite Elena Rybakina in the last four to give her real confidence for a shot at more major glory, having beaten Paolini in their only previous meeting back in 2018. Follow Krejcikova vs Paolini in the women’s singles final with Dom Smith at Wimbledon live below!
Krejcikova vs Paolini latest news
Start time: 2pm BST
How to watch: BBC
Krejcikova's path to the final
Paolini's path to the final
Prediction
GAME, SET, MATCH AND CHAMPIONSHIP: KREJCIKOVA — 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
16:07 , Dom Smith
That’s it! The golden moment in the Centre Court sun has arrived, and it’s arrived for Barbora Krejcikova, the unfancied 31st seed from the Czech Republic.
30-0 up on serve, then 30-40 down, and she wins it after fourth deuce!
She adds to the 2021 French Open title. Wimbledon has a new champion. Up to greet her family she goes. Disappointment for Paolini, after such a spirited run to this final Saturday.
Paolini 2-6, 6-2, 4-5 Krejcikova
15:55 , Dom Smith
Really good from Paolini who is down but not out. 40-0 as she comes to the net and slices down a backhand winner.
Krejcikova gets back to 40-30 and is eyeing a break of serve via deuce, yet Paolini’s serve is too hot to handle and Krejcikova nets. 5-4. Krejcikova to serve for the match next...
Paolini 2-6, 6-2, 3-5 Krejcikova
15:52 , Dom Smith
People in Krejcikova’s player’s box are up off their feet as she gets to 30-0. And then, deep behind the baseline, Paolini loops a reply over the net but not into play.
A hold to love for Krejcikova. If she breaks next, she WINS WIMBLEDON!
Paolini 2-6, 6-2, 3-4 Krejcikova
15:49 , Dom Smith
NERVELESS from Paolini who finds herself in real trouble at 0-30 down on serve but approaches the net decisively and caresses a drop-shot into a part of the court Krejcikova cannot reach. Soon it’s 30-30.
Excellent by Krejcikova to nudge herself back ahead in the game and earn break points though. Long by her in the next point. A ROAR from Paolini. Deuce.
Another break point arrives for the Czech. And a double fault sees her through. Breakthrough in the final set!
Paolini 2-6, 6-2, 3-3 Krejcikova
15:44 , Dom Smith
Helped by a cracking winner to start her service game off, Krejcikova holds firm again, not offering Paolini any chance to move ahead in this final set.
It’s level again at 3-3.
Paolini 2-6, 6-2, 3-2 Krejcikova
15:40 , Dom Smith
Paolini ace for 30-0 as Krejcikova nets with the reply. Soon it’s 40-0 and that strong serving is continuing to show itself.
Hold to love for Paolini, who leads 3-2 in the final set of this battle of the 28-year-olds.
Paolini 2-6, 6-2, 2-2 Krejcikova
15:37 , Dom Smith
An outstanding shot by Krejcikova dips just at the right moment and lands right into the corner of the court for 30-0. And then a marathon rally where Paolini cannot return the ball over the net. It’s another hold to love for Krejcikova. Much more convincing serving from both players so far in this deciding set.
Paolini 2-6, 6-2, 2-1 Krejcikova
15:33 , Dom Smith
Krejcikova nets. 15-0. Krejcikova goes long on the forehand. 30-0. Paolini into the tramlines. 30-15. Long by Krejcikova. 40-15. Paolini nets. 40-30.
Krejcikova long. Game Paolini.
Paolini 2-6, 6-2, 1-1 Krejcikova
15:30 , Dom Smith
Krejcikova cuts out the noise well and cannons down an ace for 30-0.
Then another for 30-0.
And it’s another hold to love, this time from the Czech, to start off this final set.
Perhaps it’ll be a closer one than the first two?
Paolini 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 Krejcikova
15:28 , Dom Smith
Krejcikova delivers a weak return on all three of the first points of this game, and then Paolini’s shot bounces of the Czech’s racket.
A one-sided game by Paolini, who holds to love and leads the deciding set 1-0.
Paolini 2-6, 6-2 Krejcikova
15:20 , Dom Smith
Krejcikova goes long under little pressure for 15-30, and then there’s an excellent challenge on Krejcikova’s shot by Paolini, offering her two set points at 15-40.
She takes the first, to the crowd’s glee. Lost the first 6-2, she’s won the second by the same score.
Paolini 2-6, 5-2 Krejcikova
15:16 , Dom Smith
Paolini’s powers of persistence pay off in the first point, where she offers three returns Krejcikova wasn’t expecting and slams in a winner.
Krejcikova into the tramlines for 30-0 Paolini. Long. 40-0. Excellent winner 40-15. Tramlines. Game.
Paolini 2-6, 4-2 Krejcikova
15:12 , Dom Smith
Much better serving from Krejcikova gets the 2021 French Open winner to 40-15, but Paolini then stretches out her right arm and plants a super winner past the net and in.
Eventually, Krejcikova holds for 4-2.
Paolini 2-6, 4-1 Krejcikova
15:08 , Dom Smith
Lovely ace onto the chalk down the T by Paolini sees the Italian move to 30-15 and then she waits for a looper to land just over the net which, instead of smashing down, she taps back over.
Hold.
Paolini 2-6, 3-1 Krejcikova
15:05 , Dom Smith
Poor start to the game by Krejcikova as she double-faults, and then with a poor second-serve ball toss, there’s another double fault. 0-30.
After 15-30, a line winner from Paolini for 15-40, and Krejcikova is suddenly in danger of letting Paolini run away with the second set, but the Italian’s shot drops long and it’s 30-40. Then deuce.
Paolini nets, and Krejcikova holds.
Paolini 2-6, 3-0 Krejcikova
15:00 , Dom Smith
At 40-15 and with the crowd at Centre Court overwhelmingly behind her, she nets under little pressure, making it 40-30.
Then her attempted drop shot clips the tape and fails to land over. Deuce.
Once there, she saves a break point and gets over the line. 3-0 in the second, a role reversal here!
Paolini 2-6, 2-0 Krejcikova
14:55 , Dom Smith
Paolini seems in the groove now, fist-pumping at 0-30 up and with a service game already in the bank in this second set.
And soon enough she breaks as Krejcikova continues to net. The early break is Paolini’s in the second.
Paolini 2-6, 1-0 Krejcikova
14:51 , Dom Smith
Underway in the second set, and Paolini looking for an instant response from the disappointment of losing the first.
Unforced errors from both make it 15-15, and then Paolini is the beneficiary of a few uncharacteristic miss-hits by Krejcikova, cheering back at her box as she takes the first game on serve.
Paolini 2-6 Krejcikova
14:44 , Dom Smith
Ace Krejcikova, then a roar from the Czech as she hammers down the line with a wrapped forehand winner.
Long by Paolini to bring up three set points for Krejcikova. who needs just one. First set Krejcikova here on Centre Court.
Paolini 2-5 Krejcikova
14:41 , Dom Smith
An ace by Paolini has the crowd cheering her, trying to inspire a comeback in this one-sided first set, and after a Krejcikova winner, the Czech nets for 30-15.
Krejcikova soon hits wide and Paolini takes her second game to stay in the set.
Paolini 1-5 Krejcikova
14:38 , Dom Smith
The winds show no signs of changing for Paolini, who is 40-0 down in the blink of an eye with Krejcikova pushing her to the far reaches of the court.
Krejcikova seals the fifth game to Paolini’s one with a sensational slapped forehand onto the baseline. Paolini challenges but to no avail.
Paolini 1-4 Krejcikova
14:33 , Dom Smith
Paolini is soon 0-30 down on her second service game with a forehand into the tramlines but gets back to 30-30.
She then challenges her shot which is just beyond the baseline and it is indeed out. 30-40 means break point, and she duly nets. She’s in trouble in this first set, the Italian, 1-4 down.
Paolini 1-3 Krejcikova
14:30 , Dom Smith
Krejcikova’s blend of precision and power is causing problems. An ace for 15-0, a line winner for 30-0.
An incredible point puts Krejcikova advantage up and gets the crowd off their seats — lobs, drop-shots, smashes, a winner — before an ace sees Krejcikova hold serve.
Paolini 1-2 Krejcikova
14:22 , Dom Smith
Paolini is lucky at 0-15 as she slaps a forehand cross court which just drops into the tramlines. 0-30.
Then an ace gets her one point back, and she digs out an excellent winner which wrongfoots Krejcikova. 30-30. That should give the Italian the confidence she needs.
A clench of the fists by the Italian as Krejcikova then nets under pressure.
Long for Paolini, bringing up advantage, but it’s saved with a fearless drop-shot which gives Krejcikova no chance.
She holds serve. And she needed to.
Paolini 0-2 Krejcikova
14:15 , Dom Smith
Expert serving by Krejcikova to start her service game off, to finish it off, and in between. She holds to love. Impressive start by the Czech.
Paolini 0-1 Krejcikova
14:12 , Dom Smith
Long by Paolini with the match’s first point, but then the same by her opponent for 15-15.
Then a wild effort, miles beyond the baseline, by Paolini, which draws gasps from the crowd.
She then comes to the net but it’s a poor choice, and Krejcikova’s powered shot bounces of Paolini’s racket and goes long.
Stunning winner cross-court by Krejcikova. She breaks Paolini in the opening game!
The players are out
14:02 , Dom Smith
They’re just about to begin their warm-ups
Seventh heaven for Krejcikova
13:45 , Dom Smith
Krejcikova has become the seventh Czech woman in the Open Era to reach a Wimbledon final.
The previous six were:
Martina Navratilova
Hana Mandlikova
Jana Novotna
Petra Kvitova
Karolina Pliskova
Marketa Vondrousova (last year’s champion)
Paolini feeling relaxed ahead of the final
13:32 , Dom Smith
“I’m trying to live the present and to enjoy what I’m doing and don’t forget where I am,” Paolini said after this afternoon’s final.
“I think it’s a really privileged position, and I have to keep that in focus.
“Also, sometimes I’m trying to say to myself ‘OK, jokes apart, enjoy but stay focused and think about what you have to do to step on court and give the 100 per cent that you have.
“It’s a balance, I think, between enjoying and be focused.”
Standard Sport prediction
13:20 , Dom Smith
Barbora Krejcikova has done extremely well to weather the storm in a number of closely fought matches to get herself all the way to the final.
Paolini has shown another level though, and might just be about to celebrate the greatest day of her career.
Standard Sport prediction: Paolini wins in straight sets.
Jasmine Paolini's path to the final
13:10 , Dom Smith
First round: Sara Sorribes (Spain) — 7-5, 6-3
Second round: Greet Minnen (Belgium) — 7-6(5), 6-2
Third round: Bianca Andreescu (Canada) — 7-6(4), 6-1
Fourth round: Madison Keys (USA, 12th seed) — 6-3, (6)6-7, 5-5 (walkover)
Quarter-final: Emma Navarro (USA, 19th seed) — 6-2, 6-1
Semi-final: Donna Vekic (Croatia) — 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(8)
Barbora Krejcikova's path to the final
12:59 , Dom Smith
First round: Veronika Kudermetova (Russia) — 7-6(4), (1)6-7, 7-5
Second round: Katie Volynets (USA) — 7-6(6), 7-6(5)
Third round: Jessica Bouzas (Spain) — 6-0, 4-3 (walkover)
Fourth round: Danielle Collins (USA, 11th seed) — 7-5, 6-3
Quarter-final: Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia, 13th seed) — 6-4, 7-6(4)
Semi-final: Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan, 4th seed) — 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
How to watch
12:48 , Dom Smith
The match will be broadcast live in the UK to licence fee payers on BBC One and online via BBC iPlayer.
Start time
12:37 , Dom Smith
The match is scheduled to begin at 2pm BST, where it is first on Centre Court at SW19.
Good afternoon!
12:28 , Dom Smith
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s dedicated live coverage of the Wimbledon women’s singles final.
A first for both players, who are playing in their maiden Wimbledon finals. It’s 31st seed Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic versus Jasmin Paolini, the seventh seed, from Italy.
Stay with us for build-up to the match and for game-by-game updates of the action, LIVE from Centre Court!
