Krejcikova pays tribute
LONDON: Barbora Krejcikova reckons her French Open title, plucked seemingly out of nowhere, will not be a lifechanger because her late mentor Jana Novotna taught her the humility to go with her grand slamwinning skills.
Three weeks ago, the unseeded Krejcikova had never won a singles title but following her first WTA triumph in Strasbourg, she was left practically in a state of disbelief yesterday after adding her maiden slam title at Roland Garros.
And in her moment of triumph in Paris following her 61, 26, 64 win over Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, the Czech could feel the delight of her onetime coach, Novotna, shining down on her.
The 25yearold, now in rare company as a doubles, mixed doubles and singles grand slam winner, recalled when, at 18 and unsure where her tennis career was leading, she went anxiously with her mother in Brno in the Czech Republic to ask the exWimbledon champion for advice.
‘‘I was nervous, because she was such a big tennis player, big athlete and everything.
‘‘But she was just very nice, very warm, not acting like she won so many titles, that she’s somebody special,’’ Krejcikova said.
When Novotna, having mentored and coached the youngster who had been bold enough to knock on her door that day, was later dying of cancer in 2017 at just 49, a bereft Krejcikova felt compelled to be at her side.
‘‘We just had a really special bond and when I found out that she was sick, I just felt at the end of her life I have to be there.
‘‘My parents just were telling me not to go, because they’ve seen how it’s actually ruining me. But I felt like I have to go and support her, as she had supported me.
‘‘That’s why she’s looking after me right now.’’
Krejcikova possesses a game with its variety of shot, easy power and intelligent movement that could take her even further.
She is about to join the world's top 15.
Asked if life was going to be different now, she just smiled.
‘‘I’m just going to still be the little girl from my city, from my little city, that used to start on the tennis wall.
‘‘I don’t know. Who knows? I mean, I just want to be me. I just don’t want to change.’’ — AAP