Wimbledon’s new women’s singles champion Barbora Krejcikova has revealed the late Jana Novotna’s parting piece of advice.
The Czech Republic tennis star won her first ever Wimbledon title on Saturday, beating Italian Jasmine Paolini in the third set 6-4 after a tense final game that saw her give up Championship Point twice.
Krejcikova had won the first set 6-2, before Paolini, who was also playing in her first ever Wimbledon final, took the second set with the same score.
The Czech star kissed her hand and raised it to the sky as Paolini’s returning shot went out and her victory was confirmed, before running into the crowd to celebrate with her team.
The 28-year-old was beaming as she spoke in her post-match interview with her trophy in her arms, but was soon overcome with emotion as she spoke about the late Novotna.
Krejcikova had visited the 1998 Wimbledon women’s singles champion as a child and handed her a letter – a meeting that proved to play a huge role in inspiring her tennis career.
Novotna – who beat Nathalie Tauziat to win Wimbledon 25 years ago – died of cancer in 2017.
When asked what her win would mean to Novotna, Krejcikova said: “Well, I think coming to Jana and knocking on her door and giving her that letter, everything that happened during that moment, I think that just changed my life.
“It definitely changed my life because – I mean during the period when I finished juniors, I didn’t know what I should do, if I should continue and play pro or if I should go to education.
“Jana was the one that told me I had the potential and that I should definitely turn pro and try to make it.”
And it turns out Novotna had a special parting wish for her mentee.
She said: “Before she passed away, she told me to go and win a Slam and I achieved that in 2021 and it was an unbelievable moment for me.
“I never dreamed I would win the same trophy as Jana did in 1998.”
Krejcikova was then seen crying as she read her name on the board now etched alongside all the other women’s singles champions, including Novotna’s.
Krejcikova is the latest Czech to win the women’s singles at Wimbledon, following in the foot steps of last year’s champion Marketa Vondrousova, who lost in the first round last week.
She won her first ever Grand Slam in 2021 at the French Open, beating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in three sets.
News Summary:
- ‘It changed my life’ – Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova in tears after revealing parting message from late hero Jana Novotna
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