BARBORA KREJCIKOVA complained last year that she was never in the conversation surrounding the top of women’s tennis — despite her recent wins over big names.

“It’s about Iga (Swiatek), Aryna (Sabalenka) and Elena (Rybakina)  and I’m not really there,” the 2021 French Open winner complained in Miami in March 2023.

Unfortunately, in the intervening 16 months that gripe became more and more risible.

Injury and illness have taken their toll as Krejcikova tumbled down the rankings and after a two-month lay-off earlier this year she lost all four of her matches, including a first-round exit at Roland Garros, before arriving on the grass.

But now, as world number 32, Krejcikova beat Rybakina in three tense sets to reach a first Wimbledon final.

“I felt I had to improve everything,” she said. “I think I definitely got better on faster surfaces. I felt like I had to develop my game because everybody else is developing their game, too.

“I mean, it’s great that it looks like I made some progress, that I’m in another final.”

Krejcikova will face another 28-year-old, Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, who is continuing to surprise herself and the tennis world following her run to the Roland Garros final six weeks ago.

Paolini came through a tense, emotional match against Donna Vekic after a third set tie-break in the longest women’s semi-final in Wimbledon history.

The Tuscany player said: “I’m trying to live the present and to enjoy what I’m doing and don’t forget where I am.

“Also, sometimes I’m trying to say to myself ‘OK, jokes apart, enjoy but stay focused and think about what you have to do to step on court and give the 100 per cent that you have’.”