World number 32 Krejcikova had a difficult season before Wimbledon and admitted to “doubts inside” before her team told her to “keep going and fighting”.
She is now aiming to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Marketa Vondrousova, who stunned Ons Jabeur in last year’s final.
Krejcikova is the fifth Czech player to reach a Wimbledon final in the Open era, with other singles champions at SW19 including two-time winner Petra Kvitova and Jana Novotna, who coached Krejcikova before she died of ovarian cancer in 2017.
“We have a huge tennis history in the Czech Republic at Wimbledon,” said Krejcikova.
“When I was growing up, I had a lot of players that I could look up to.”
She has the experience of playing in and winning a Grand Slam singles final, having triumphed at the 2021 French Open. She has also completed the career Slam in doubles, and has an Olympic doubles title to boot.
Will that give her the advantage on Saturday – or will Paolini’s never-give-up approach prove to be the difference?