Krejcikova beats Paolini in final to clinch second Grand Slam title
Krejcikova’s win was deeply emotional, particularly because of her connection to her late mentor, Jana Novotna, who won Wimbledon in 1998 and passed away in 2017.
By Shailesh SolankiJul 14, 2024
Barbora Krejcikova, the 31st seed from the Czech Republic, captured her second Grand Slam title at Wimbledon on Saturday, defeating Italy's seventh seed Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 in the final.
The victory marked a significant milestone in Krejcikova's career, adding to her 2021 French Open triumph.
Krejcikova dominated the first set with aggressive play, winning 6-2. However, Paolini, known for her fighting spirit, rallied back in the second set, winning 6-2 and pushing the match to a decider. The third set was a tense battle, with Krejcikova breaking Paolini's serve at 3-3 due to a double fault. Serving for the title at 5-4, Krejcikova showed nerves of steel, saving two break points and eventually clinching the victory on her third match point.
Krejcikova's win was deeply emotional, particularly because of her connection to her late mentor, Jana Novotna, who won Wimbledon in 1998 and passed away in 2017. Reflecting on her journey, Krejcikova said, "Knocking on her door changed my life. Jana told me I had the potential and should turn professional. Before she passed away, she told me I could win a Grand Slam. Achieving this at Wimbledon, where she won, is beyond words."
Krejcikova plays a forehand against Paolini during the women's singles final on Saturday. (Photo: Getty Images)
Krejcikova's tears flowed as she saw Novotna's name on the honours board. "The only thing going through my head was that I miss Jana a lot. It was a very emotional moment to see my name next to hers," she said.
Krejcikova's path to the final was marked by resilience as she faced a series of tough opponents, starting with a gruelling first-round match against Russia's Veronika Kudermetova, which she won 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (1/7), 7-5.
She continued her campaign with victories over Katie Volynets (7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/5)), Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (6-0, 4-3 retired), and Danielle Collins (7-5, 6-3).
In the quarter-finals, Krejcikova overcame Jelena Ostapenko (6-4, 7-6 (7/4)) and then staged a comeback to defeat 2022 champion Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals (3-6, 6-3, 6-4).
Paolini, on the other hand, had an impressive run to the final, defeating Sara Sorribes Tormo (7-5, 6-3), Greet Minnen (7-6 (7/5), 6-2), Bianca Andreescu (7-6 (7/4), 6-1), and Madison Keys (6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 5-5 retired).
She then convincingly beat Emma Navarro (6-2, 6-1) in the quarter-finals and won a marathon semi-final against Donna Vekic (2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10/8)).
Despite the loss, Paolini's journey to the final was remarkable. She became the first Italian woman to reach the Wimbledon final and had a historic run, including winning the longest women's singles semi-final in Wimbledon history against Vekic.
Paolini poses with her ladies' singles runner-up trophy. (Photo: Getty Images)
Paolini, who reached her second Grand Slam final this year after the French Open, remained positive. "I try to keep smiling because I have to remember today is still a good day. I made the final of Wimbledon," she said. "It's unbelievable. I just did two finals in two Grand Slams. I have to be happy with the results, even though I'm a little bit disappointed."
Born in Brno, Krejcikova began playing tennis at age six and has had a successful career in both singles and doubles.
She has won 14 singles and 19 doubles titles on the ITF Circuit. In 2021, she completed a singles and doubles sweep at the French Open, becoming the first to do so since Mary Pierce in 2000.
Krejcikova also won a gold medal in doubles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and has multiple Grand Slam doubles titles, including two at Wimbledon.
Krejcikova's victory at Wimbledon is set to propel her back into the top 10 in singles rankings.
For Paolini, the focus remains on maintaining her high level of play and aiming for future Grand Slam titles.
Comedian and presenter Romesh Ranganathan has opened up about his long-term mental health challenges, describing how he has found effective ways to manage his wellbeing and now feels he is in “one of the best places I’ve ever been in my life”.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, Ranganathan discussed experiencing suicidal thoughts in the past and the steps he has taken to improve his mental health. He also reflected on his Sri Lankan heritage, his upbringing, and the difficulties his family faced during his youth.
Managing mental health with daily routines
Ranganathan said he uses running, reading and breathing exercises to help maintain his mental wellbeing. These habits have become an important part of his routine.
“One of the things I’ve noticed when it comes to mental health is you do stuff that works… and then for some reason you just stop doing it,” he said. “You go, ‘Oh, I’ve done that every day for a week, I’m really feeling better, shall I just stop? Yeah!’ And then a few weeks later, wonder why I feel much worse.”
He described recognising when his mental health dips as “half the battle”, explaining that he is now better equipped to respond to difficult periods. “Sometimes I just go through a dark period and I know that I’ve got to do something about it,” he said.
Sharing mental health experiences responsibly
The 47-year-old broadcaster also reflected on the challenges of discussing mental health publicly, particularly when such conversations might affect others.
“You’ve got to be careful because it’s triggering [for other people],” he told presenter Lauren Laverne. “The way that I try and tackle that is to talk about it… I’m trying to destigmatise it to make the conversation normal.”
Mental health should be something people feel able to talk about openlyBBC Radio 4
However, Ranganathan acknowledged the fine line involved in public disclosures. “You do also have to be mindful of the fact that people may have been affected by that,” he said. “You don’t always get it right, but I think the rewards outweigh the risks.”
He explained that, like physical illness, mental health should be something people feel able to talk about openly. But he also emphasised the importance of being sensitive to those who may have personal experiences with suicide or depression.
Personal losses and long-term challenges
Ranganathan revealed that his struggles with mental health date back to his teenage years. He recalled particularly difficult moments during his A-levels, when his father was imprisoned for fraud, and the wider financial difficulties the family faced at the time.
“I’ve been through in my life a number of periods of suicide ideation,” he said. Despite these challenges, he said he currently feels mentally strong and positive. “As I speak now, this is running close to one of the best places I’ve ever been in my life mentally.”
His father died in 2011, but Ranganathan continues to reflect on his parents' lives and the lasting impact they’ve had on him.
Honouring his mother’s strength
During the interview, Ranganathan spoke warmly about his mother, Shanthi, and described her as “one of my heroes”. He shared how his parents moved to the UK from Sri Lanka in 1970, eight years before he was born.
While his father embraced British culture, socialising and working, Ranganathan said his mother had a very different experience. “That’s a 19-year-old girl who had kids in a foreign country,” he said. “My dad was going off to work… my mum is at home and going to the shops, but… there’s a strong argument he should’ve implemented more boundaries than he did.”
He admitted that one of his biggest regrets is “not having enough empathy or understanding” of his mother’s situation when he was growing up.
Family challenges and early life
Ranganathan recalled a difficult period when he was 12, and his father lost his job and struggled financially. “He was trying to make money in his sort of Sri Lankan Del Boy way, and it wasn’t working out,” he said. “He couldn’t keep up the mortgage repayments on their house.”
His father was later arrested and sentenced to two years in prison for fraud, an event that deeply affected Ranganathan during his teenage years.
Despite these hardships, Ranganathan eventually found success in comedy in the early 2010s and has since become a household name in the UK. He now hosts a weekend show on BBC Radio 2 and has fronted numerous popular television programmes.
Music and reflections
As part of his Desert Island Discs appearance, Ranganathan selected songs from artists including Kanye West, Eminem, and Huey Lewis and the News. His musical choices reflected different stages of his life and emotional journey.
The interview provided a rare and honest glimpse into the comedian’s personal experiences and mental health journey, offering encouragement to others who may be facing similar struggles.
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Miley Cyrus embraces body freedom in a completely sheer gown
Miley Cyrus is stepping into her new era with bold fashion choices. On 4 June, the pop icon made an appearance in New York City while promoting her latest album, Something Beautiful. Clad in a completely sheer black gown, Miley greeted fans outside Rockefeller Center, signed autographs, and proved once again that she’s fully in control of her narrative.
Sheer look makes a statement during album signing
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Bollywood icon Aamir Khan has officially revealed that he will be teaming up with Tamil filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj for a large-scale superhero action film. The project, which is still in its early stages, is expected to begin production in the second half of 2026.
A rare early reveal from Aamir Khan
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Masum, of Leamington Avenue, Burnley, was remanded in custody by Justice Cotter and is due to stand trial for murder on Monday.
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The stalking charge alleges Masum tracked Akter between November and April, found her location at a safe house, sent threatening messages including photos and videos, loitered near her temporary residence, and caused her alarm or distress and fear of violence.
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When Eastern Eye asked him to select his favourite songs, he chose ones filled with magic, meaning and cherished memories.
Tu by Sonu Nigam: When I was about 11, my mother Camla Ramoutar sang with a band called Melody Express and rehearsed at our home. One night, the lead singer did not show up, and they were practising this song. Jerry Beharry overheard me singing along and told me to perform it on stage. It became the first song I ever sang live.
Nache Man Mora Magan by Mohammed Rafi: Known as one of the most difficult songs to sing, this track encouraged me to pursue a music career. It was my first entry into Mastana Bahar, a respected platform that launched the careers of many artists.
Pretty Woman from Kal Ho Naa Ho: This song brought me my love and life partner, Vanessa Ramoutar. I entered a major competition in Trinidad and Tobago for the best cover version of this song. I did two versions with Xsitaaz Band and Caribbean Vibrations Band. We performed on a live TV show called Indian Variety, and I needed a dancer. That is when the beautifully talented Vanessa walked into my life.
Mitwa from Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna: This film track is a personal favourite to sing live. It remains one of the sweetest songs ever composed.
Sapano Main Pyardi by Ramdeo Chaitoo: This was the first traditional chutney song I covered. It will always hold a special place in my heart because it represents Caribbean music.
Ro Na Kabhi Nahin Rona from Apna Desh: I recorded a cover version of this song in 2007 and was blessed with a beautiful baby girl that same year. She brought such light into our lives, and the song became a huge success. To commemorate that moment, we named our daughter after the track – Varonah. For her sweet 16, we created a special remix of it just for her.
Ah Wish I Was Single by Rick Ram: I have many original hits in the chutney soca genre, but this one stands out. In 2012, I recorded the song and entered two competitions. I placed third in the Chutney Soca Monarch and won my first title as South Super Saturday Chutney Soca Monarch.
Nanda Baba by Anand Yankarran: This iconic song, originally sung by the late, great legend Anand Yankarran, remains one of the greatest traditional chutney tracks. I remember calling Mr Yankarran to ask his permission to do a cover, just before he passed away. He was so excited and said he had never heard anyone sing it the way I did. I recorded it with his blessings.
Luuuzzaarr by Rick Ram: This song was born out of a difficult time, when my wife and I were being bullied. Rather than retaliating, we channelled that experience into creating something positive. Luuuzzaarr made a huge impact – and helped me win two titles: the 2024 Chutney Soca Monarch and the 103.1FM Chutney Soca Road March competition.
Party Like This by Rick Ram: This original song is dedicated to my little prince, my son Rick Junior. He is full of energy and watches everything I do. A reflection of him, I am proud of this track just as I am proud of him and everything he is. It has become his anthem.