Barbora Krejcikova blasts into first Wimbledon semifinal, dispatching Jelena Ostapenko

Barbora Krejcikova surged into her first Grand Slam singles semifinal since capturing the Roland Garros title in 2021, winning a battle of former Paris champions against Jelena Ostapenko, 6-4, 7-6 (4).

A former world No. 2, the No. 31 seed continued an impressive return to form after an injury-addled season, rallying from 4-1 down in the second set to cool the on-fire No. 13 seed in one hour and 40 minutes on No. 1 Court.

Krejcikova arrived at the All England Club decidedly under the radar after missing the Sunshine Swing due to a back injury and going winless on clay, bottom in out the first round of Roland Garros to Viktorija Golubic.

Though she enjoyed a solid run to the Rothesay Classic quarterfinals in Birmingham, it wasn’t until the clean-hitting Czech began her Wimbledon campaign that she rediscovered her best form, reaching her second major quarterfinal of the season and first outside the Australian Open in nearly three years (2021 US Open).

After surviving a three-setter against Veronika Kudermetova, she rolled through her next three matches without dropping a set, outfoxing an in-form Danielle Collins to defeat the No. 11 seed and book an eighth career meeting against Ostapenko.

The 2017 Roland Garros champion had looked back to her scintillating best at SW19, roaring into the last eight without dropping a set and losing a total of just 15 games. With a 5-2 head-to-head against Krejcikova that included a 2023 win on grass, Ostapenko was quick out of the gates and won the first six points of their meeting on Wednesday.

Krejcikova soon settled and scored an early break on the Latvian’s serve, reversing a 40-15 deficit with well-struck returns, and ultimately held on to clinch a one-set lead.

Ostapenko struggled to make in-roads on the Krejcikova serve but found an opportunity in the second set and held on in a marathon fifth game to take a 4-1 lead on her rival. Undaunted, Krejcikova swept through the next four games as a frustrated Ostapenko boiled over, issuing an incorrect challenge on a Krejcikova forehand winner that gave her the chance to serve for the match.

Two points from defeat, Ostapenko made a brave last stand and engineered two break opportunities, converting when Krejcikova blinked with a double fault. Buoyed by the reprieve, Ostapenko put down a strong service hold to put Krejcikova on the brink of a deciding set.

Krejcikova steadied and responded with a love hold of her own, and emerged from an exchange of mini-breaks with a 4-2 lead at the change of ends. Outrallying Ostapenko to earn three match points, Krejcikova converted the second to her immense delight in just over 90 minutes, greeting her vanquished rival with a warm hug at the net.

Up next for Krejcikova will be 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina: the No. 4 seed eased past 2023 semifinalist Elina Svitolina, 6-3, 6-2 to reach her first major semifinal in 18 months (2023 Australian Open). Krejcikova leads Rybakina 2-0 in their head-to-head, with their last meeting coming in Ostrava back in 2022.