There are two kinds of impossible task in the world. There is the kind of impossible task which indeed proves impossible; and there is the kind of impossible task which Barbora Krejcikova faced in her Wimbledon semi-final against 2022 champion Elena Rybakina, which was impossible until the No.31 seed gloriously proved otherwise.
Three long years since her 2021 victory at Roland-Garros set the Czech on the path to the world No.2 slot, Krejcikova came into this grass court swing without so much as one completed win to her name since January. During that same period, Rybakina was busy racking up seven Tour semi-finals, five finals and a trio of titles.
Just once in five previous matches this Fortnight had Rybakina conceded more than five games, when world No.72 Laura Siegemund denied her an entire set way back in the second round. Usefully, the German is Krejcikova’s doubles partner – did the Czech consult her mate for advice?
Rybakina was the scorching hot favourite for this match and the title too. Krejcikova had never previously defeated a top five player in any Grand Slam, and matters looked dire when she stood at 0-4 after 19 minutes. But after gaining respectability in the first set, she edged nervily into the decider, before grasping an extraordinary victory 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
In a final predicted by surely no one, Krejcikova will face the No.7 seed Jasmine Paolini on Saturday for The Championship.
