Barbora’s Jana tribute

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA paid an emotional tribute to her late mentor Jana Novotna after becoming the most unlikely of Grand Slam champions. The 25 year-old Czech, who was not even in the top 100 a year ago, capped an unpredictable women’s French Open by beating Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 2-6, 6-4. Former Wimbledon winner Novotna, who died from cancer in 2017, coached the world No 33 for two years. ‘I was going through a hard time when Jana was passing away,’ said Krejcikova. ‘Her last words to me were to just try to win a Grand Slam. I know from somewhere she is looking out at me. She was an inspiration.’