Wimbledon - Day 13: Krejcikova emulates mentor Novotna

“I think she would be proud“

Krejcikova, having navigated through the Centre Court stands to celebrate in jubilant scenes with her team, held it together until she saw her name on the clubhouse Roll of Honour with Novotna.

The tears flowed, it really was a full circle moment.

“The only thing that was going through my head was that I miss Jana a lot. It was just very, very emotional,” said Krejcikova.

“I think she would be proud. I think she would be really excited that I'm on a same board as she is because Wimbledon was super special for her.”

Rewind to 2014 and Krejcikova was finishing competing in the junior ranks and subsequently wrote a letter to Novotna, asking for advice, direction, in a predicament of whether to venture into the professional ranks. Shortly after the Czech duo had a hit and they worked together until Novotna tragically died from ovarian cancer in 2017, aged just 49-years-old. 

“She was the one who told me I had the potential and I should definitely turn pro. Before she passed away, she told me I can win a slam. I achieved that in Paris in 2021 – it was an unbelievable moment for me and I never really dreamed I would win the same trophy as Jana did in 1998,” continued Krejcikova, now a 12-time Grand Slam champion across singles and doubles.

“I have like a little notebook that I wrote when I was 12. I don't know, maybe like three, four months ago I was flicking through that notebook. I wrote that in the future I would like to win Roland-Garros. So it was quite a big dream for me to win Roland-Garros.

“Jana was then telling me all the stories about Wimbledon, about the grass, how difficult it was for her to win the title and how emotional she was when she actually made it. I think since then I started to see the Wimbledon like the biggest tournament in the world.”

“The best day of my life”

Krejcikova, a former singles world No.2 and former doubles No.1, utilised all her major experience to burst through the opening set. Paolini’s emergence at the top table has been one of the stories of 2024 and the No.7 seed produced some sparkling energetic tennis to level.

With the Czech serving for the Championship at 5-4 in the decider, the tense exchanges built to a nail-biting conclusion. On a third match point, Krejcikova was scribed into Wimbledon history forever.

“It's definitely the best day of my tennis career and also the best day of my life.”

On top of the heartwarming Novotna connection, this “unbelievable” triumph has been somewhat out of the blue. Doubts and defeats, injuries and illness, Krejcikova has endured a torrid on-court season. So much so, that prior to playing in south-west London, the No.31 seed was 7-9 for the campaign. She was 7-0 for this fortnight.

“I have no idea why this tournament. I think nobody believes it that I got to the final and nobody believes that I won Wimbledon. I still can't believe it,” claimed Krejcikova. "Two weeks ago I had a very tough match – 7-6(4), 6-7(1), 7-5 in the first round versus Veronika Kudermetova - and I wasn’t in good shape before that because I was injured and ill. I didn’t really have a good beginning to the season.

“I had really tough draw. I was just going match by match. I was just feeling better and getting better. It's unbelievable I'm stood here now and I've won Wimbledon.”

Three years on from singles glory on Court Philippe-Chatrier, Krejcikova is already forward thinking.

“It's great that I'm a two-time major champion. It's something unbelievable. On the other hand, I'm still the same person. I still love tennis very much. I still want to continue playing tennis well and fight for other tournaments.”

Paolini seeking the positives

Over to Paolini’s perspective, it’s a second Grand Slam singles heartbreak within two months.

The runner-up in Paris and at SW19 can hold her head high, following two campaigns packed with passion and joy emanating into the stands.

Until this season, Paolini had never won a match at Wimbledon, but within two weeks became the first Italian woman to reach the Wimbledon silverware showdown in the Open Era.

"The last two months have been crazy for me,” said Paolini, who is set to rise to career-high world No.5 on Monday. "Today I am a little bit sad. I try to keep smiling because I have to remember today is still a good day, I made the final of Wimbledon. I remember as a kid watching the final and cheering for (Roger) Federer I have to say. It's been a beautiful two weeks and I want to thank everyone who made it possible.

“It's been an incredible year. I hope to continue like that with this level of tennis. I'm going to try to work to keep this focus, this level.”