Wimbledon 2024 LIVE: Tennis scores as Krejcikova beats Paolini in thrilling final

For a player so composed, gliding through shots with such picturesque ease and guile, the emotions stayed in tact for Barbora Krejcikova as she claimed her first Wimbledon crown. On court, at least. The smile was difficult to wipe off her face as she received the Venus Rosewater Dish, amid the light of a rare day of south-west London sunshine. It was only when on-court interviewer Annabel Croft mentioned her mentor – the late, great Jana Novotna, champion of 1998 – that the sensations shifted.

The Czechs quite like it here in SW19. Twelve months on from Marketa Vondrousova’s unfancied upset victory against a higher-seeded opponent and a decade since Petra Kvitova’s second Wimbledon title, 31^st seed Krejcikova upset the formbook again as she outlasted the spirited performance of Italian Jasmine Paolini in three momentum-shifting sets, 6-2, 2-6. 6-4.

Jasmine Paolini was in a reflective mood after her narrow defeat to Barbora Krejcikova in the Wimbledon final on Saturday.

Paolini was the higher seed – seven to 31 – in the women’s singles final and was chasing a first Grand Slam, five weeks after missing out to Iga Swiatek in the French Open.

The Italian fought back valiantly in the second-set to force a decider but, ultimately, one break of serve in the third set in the Czech’s favour was enough for Krejcikova to claim the title.

“I have to accept today and work hard, but today it’s tough to speak,” she said in her post-match press conference.

Carlos Alcaraz is eyeing up double Spanish success on a “perfect Sunday”.

The 21-year-old is one win away from a second successive Wimbledon title after fighting from a set down to defeat Daniil Medvedev.

It was a repeat of last year’s semi-final, which the Spaniard had won easily, but this time he was made to work harder for his 6-7 (1) 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory.

Now he must try to stage another repeat in the final, with seven-time champion Novak Djokovic again the man across the other side of the net.

Alcaraz has become a firm favourite at Wimbledon but he experienced booing on Centre Court after his match when he suggested it was going to be a good day for Spanish people on Sunday.

“There was plenty of doubt. I came into London eight days before the tournament stared. I didn’t know [if I would play] and I was keeping everything open until the day of the draw.

“I have played a couple of practice sets with top plays and that proved to me I was in a good enough state to not just be in Wimbledon, but to go deep into the tournament.

“That kind of mentality is there and is ever present. Thank you to the team members for helping me.”

“I have said it many times Wimbledon has been a childhood dream for me to play it and to win it. It is worth repeating I was a seven-year-old boy watching the bombs fly over my head and dreaming of being on the most important court in the world which is here in Wimbledon.

“I was constructing Wimbledon trophies out of any material in the room!

“I have the tremendous support from my family and my wife has been with me for many years and my children too – it has been an incredible journey.

“I try not to take it for granted every time I find myself on this unique court. Obviously during the match it is business time and trying to do your work and I try out play my opponent.

“I am satisfied and pleased, but I don’t want to stop here – hopefully I get my hands on the trophy.”

So the all-time classic will have an instant rematch. Novak Djokovic will face Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final on Sunday in a repeat of last year’s epic five-setter, as the 37-year-old bids to become the oldest champion in the Open era at the All England Club.

It’s the final everyone wanted to see and yet, after beating the inspired Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets, the boos that rained down from the Centre Court crowd were rather illustrative of how difficult a journey this has been for the seven-time champion. Djokovic celebrated by pretending to play the violin on his racket, in a tribute to his six-year-old daughter. But clearly, a few days after accusing some Wimbledon fans of “showing disrespect”, some in the crowd thought the gesture was directed at them.

“He is a great example as a young player that has a well balanced life on and off the court. He has great values in his family a lot of charisma.

“He is deservedly one of the greatest 21-year-olds we have seen in this sport. We will see a lot of him in the future no doubt.

“He is going to win many more Grand Slams, but hopefully in two days – not this one! In the future when I retire in about 15-years! I am joking…

“Jokes aside, he has already beaten me here in a thrilling five-setter – I don’t expect anything less than that.

“He is complete as a player as they come. It is going to take my best ability to beat him on Sunday.”

Novak Djokovic was booed on Centre Court as he pretended to play the violin on his racket after booking his place in a 10th Wimbledon final

The 37-year-old was making his first appearance since turning on sections of the crowd and accusing them of “showing disrespect” following his win over Holger Rune.

Djokovic was in impressive form as he defeated Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets to set up a rematch of last year’s Wimbledon final against Carlos Alcaraz.

“During the match it’s business time, trying to outplay your opponent,” he said.

“I’m very happy to be in another final but I don’t want to stop here. Hopefully I’ll get my hands on that trophy.”

2023 – Marketa Vondrousova

Alfie Hewett could toast double Wimbledon success this weekend after he followed up his thrilling wheelchair singles semi-final win with victory alongside Gordon Reid in the last four of the men’s doubles.

Hewett claimed revenge over Gustavo Fernandez at the start of day 12 of the Championships, winning 4-6 6-4 7-5 against the third seed, who had knocked him out of the French Open last month.

Victory after two hour and 41 minutes on Court Three has kept Hewett on track to claim a first singles triumph at the All England Club after runner-up finishes in each of the last two years.

Second seed Hewett lost to Tokito Oda in the final 12 months ago, but will not take on the Japanese teenager after he was edged out by Spaniard Martin De La Puente in three sets.