Krejcikova upsets favourite Rybakina to reach women’s singles final

By Paul Lagan at Wimbledon

Centre Court

Barbora Krejcikova v Elena Rybakina

3-6, 6-3, 6-4

What is it about women’s singles semi-finals that seem to bring out the three-setter matches?

Following on from Jasmine Paolini’s marathon effort to see off Donna Vekic, it was the turn of Barbora Krejcikova to lose the first set, but storm back and oust the No4 see from Kazakhstan.

Krejcikova is a bit of a doubles specialist and has won the women’s doubles title twice, but demonstrated that patience, guile and a little bit of good fortune along the way can help.

Rybakina had destroyed all before her in the Championships, and it felt she ran out of steam midway through the second set.

Any sense of weakness was pounced on by the Czech Republic player and a place in Saturday’s final against Italian Paolini will be the furthest she has reached in Wimbledon although she does have French title to her name in 2021.

Pictured top: Krejcikova shakes the hand of the vanquished Rybakina Picture by Paul Lagan