At the tender age of 12, young Barbora Krejcikova made a list of three major milestones she aimed to accomplish should she indeed defy the odds and start a career in professional tennis. Though at that point the prospect of forging a life in the sport was merely a remote possibility, her aspirations were nothing short of grandiose.
“Among my objectives was to make it to the elite top 10 in tennis,” the Czech athlete reminisced on Saturday night, just a short while post securing her maiden victory at Wimbledon against Italian competitor, Jasmine Paolini. “I had also scribbled down the desire to secure a win at Roland Garros, and the ambition of representing my country, Czech Republic, at the Olympic Games, in the pursuit of a medal.”
One by one, Krejcikova has brilliantly accomplished every goal she set herself before participating in Wimbledon. She has climbed to as high as number two in the global standings, won the 2021 French Open, and bagged the doubles gold at the Tokyo Olympics alongside compatriot Katerina Siniakova.
However, the possibility of claiming a Wimbledon title was an idea yet to occur to her at this juncture. Her ambition to succeed on the much revered grass court was cultivated after crossing paths with the late Jana Novotna, a fellow Czech and victor in the 1998 Wimbledon tournament.
“Perceptions began to alter slightly when I got the chance to meet Jana. Listening to her speak passionately about Wimbledon, the unique challenges of the grass, the emotions she grappled with to secure the victory, moved me,” Krejcikova mused. “Her thoughts possibly marked the inception of my regard for Wimbledon as the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world.”
At the age of 14, Krejcikova’s life took a crucial turn when she sent a note to Novotna, a fellow resident of their hometown Brno. Although the exact wording from her note eludes Krejcikova, she had essentially requested Novotna’s guidance in the pursuit of her dreams. Novotna agreed to train Krejcikova from 2014 till her demise in 2017 following an extended fight with cancer.
Now, Krejcikova boasts a total of 12 Grand Slam singles titles, comprising two singles, seven women’s doubles, and three mixed titles. Fascinatingly, before 2020, she was primarily recognized for her doubles play. “Despite excelling in doubles, my singles ranking hovered just beyond 100,” commented the 28-year-old, who is set to rejoin the top 10 ranks come Monday.
“The challenge was to balance both singles and doubles, but something clicked post-Covid, in 2020, which helped me break into the top 100. This subsequently allowed me to deliver some outstanding singles performances as well.”
Her 2021 French Open victory can easily be considered unexpected, given her relatively low rank at the time. Similarly, her latest victory followed a year fraught with interruptions due to injuries and illness. After an encouraging start at the Australian Open, where she made it to the quarterfinals, she subsequently contracted a bacterial virus in Miami, caught Covid in Madrid, and suffered a string of defeats on clay, including an early exit at Roland Garros.
“Leading up to Wimbledon was a challenging journey,” she recounted. “Though I was never hospitalised, I endured ten days of antibiotics, which is hardly ideal for one’s well-being and body’s normal functioning, coupled with the self-isolation required for my Covid recovery, which included coping with a high fever for five days. It was an incredibly difficult time.”
The sterling performance she delivered at Wimbledon is notable. By engaging in Lego construction to maintain her composure in between tournaments – she wouldn’t mind seeing a model of Wimbledon Centre Court available – Krejcikova navigated through challenging early games and then found her rhythm. A formidable player when it comes to accurate ball hitting, her talent allows her to excel on any court. Alongside Simona Halep, she is one of only two currently active players to have clinched victories at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
Having a casual disposition and not one to revel in grand festivity, she remains uncertain about what awaits her upon return to the Czech Republic but is keen on participating in the upcoming games in Prague. Post this, she will make her way to Paris to compete in the Olympics, aiming for her first individual gold medal. She will join Siniakova for the doubles, the duo having gone their separate ways after 2023.
She expressed her passion for representing her nation, fondly recalling her experiences at the Tokyo Olympics, which she described as incredible. She enjoyed the ambiance of the Czech House and the opportunity to interact with athletes from diverse nations. She said it was remarkably enjoyable and deviated from the norm of regular tennis tournaments. She is greatly anticipating this experience again. – Guardian