Exclusive: Wimbledon icon Marion Bartoli delivers verdict on Barbora Krejcikova vs Jasmine Paolini final
Only a select few have ever been able to lift the iconic Venus Rosewater Dish at Wimbledon.
And on Saturday, one of 31st seed Barbora Krejcikova or seventh seed Jasmine Paolini will join an exclusive list of players to do just that – by winning the women’s singles title at SW19.
Among the past champions watching on with interest will be French ace Marion Bartoli, who lost the 2007 final to Venus Williams before capturing her sole Slam by beating Sabine Lisicki in 2013.
Krejcikova pulled off one of the surprises of the tournament in her semi-final, downing 2022 champion and overwhelming title favourite Elena Rybakina from a set deficit to reach her first singles final at Wimbledon.
Paolini, who reached the French Open final a month ago, edged past Donna Vekic in an instant classic to reach back-to-back major finals.
Speaking to Tennis365, Bartoli holds high hopes that both will continue their recent level of form on Saturday.
She said: “It’s going to be incredibly interesting.
“Obviously, Paolini is just playing amazing tennis, reaching back-to-back finals. And Krejcikova, she was really the underdog as no one was predicting her to beat Rybakina, who was the overwhelming favourite to win this tournament.
“It’s going to be a cracker.”
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Paolini has had the more consistent form of the two in 2024, winning her first WTA 1000 in Dubai before her epic run at Roland Garros in June.
She is the first woman to reach consecutive French Open and Wimbledon finals since Serena Williams in 2016, and is the rankings favourite to lift the title on Saturday.
However, Krejcikova’s 31st seeding is deceptive.
The Czech has been as high as world No 2 and, unlike her upcoming opponent, is already a Grand Slam winner in all disciplines of the sport.
Alongside seven women’s doubles Slams and three mixed titles at the Australian Open, she won the 2021 women’s singles titles at Roland Garros.
And Bartoli believes that while the final is even, that may work to her advantage.
“I think it’s very even, they have a very similar style of play,” added the former world No 7.
“Once again, for Krejcikova to pull out one of the main favourites to win this title is a big help for her and she’s won a Grand Slam before – but I think it’s very much in the balance.”