"Before she passed away, she told go win a Slam"- Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova emotionally reveals how late Jana Novotna "changed her life"

Barbora Krejcikova remembered her former coach, the late Jana Novotna, during an emotional moment after winning the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. The Czech revealed how Novotna motivated her to achieve success at Grand Slams.

Krejcikova was crowned the women’s singles champion on Saturday, July 13, when she beat Italy’s Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 in the title clash. In doing so, the former World No. 2 clinched her second Grand Slam singles title after the 2021 French Open.

Barbora Krejcikova, who was in tears while remembering Jana Novotna after the semifinals, made a heartwarming mention of the former player after winning the title, too. The 28-year-old revealed how paying a visit to the former Wimbledon champion during her transition from juniors to pro "changed her life."

"Well, I think coming to Jana, knocking on her door, giving her the letter, I think everything that happened during the moment, I think it just changed my life. It definitely changed my tennis life," she said in her on-court interview after the final.

Krejcikova was Novotna’s final mentee before her death from ovarian cancer in 2017. She said the former World No. 2 encouraged her to pursue tennis professionally when she realized her potential. Krejcikova also revealed that Jana Novotna motivated her to win a Grand Slam.

"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 the way of education. And Jana was the one that told me that I had the potential and that I should definitely turn pro and just try to make it," Krejcikova recalled.

"Before she passed away, she told me to go and win a Slam," she added.

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Barbora Krejcikova on winning Wimbledon 2024: "Never dreamed I would win the same trophy as Jana Novotna"

Barbora Krejcikova pictured at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships (Image Source: Getty)

Barbora Krejcikova’s first Grand Slam triumph came in women’s doubles alongside her former doubles partner Katerina Siniakova at the 2018 French Open, less than a year after Novotna’s passing. Just a month later, the pair won their second title at the 2018 Wimbledon Championships.

The 28-year-old then won three mixed doubles titles at the Australian Open, partnering Rajeev Ram (2018, 2021) and Nikola Mektic (2020), before winning her maiden Grand Slam singles title at the French Open (2021). That year, Krejcikova also won the women’s doubles title in Paris.

With her latest Wimbledon triumph, the Czech tennis player’s rich Grand Slam resume boasts two singles titles, seven women’s doubles titles, and three mixed-doubles titles.

In the aforementioned on-court interview, Barbora Krejcikova noted that although she was overjoyed when she won her maiden singles trophy in 2021, the triumph at SW19 was significant, considering Jana Novotna's 1998 success.

"And I achieved that already (winning a Slam) in Paris in 2021 and it was an unbelievable moment for me. And I never really dreamed that I would win the same trophy as Jana did in 1998," she said.

Jana Novotna, who also had a glorious record in women’s doubles, made the Wimbledon singles final twice (1993, 1997) before finally getting her hands on the Venus Rosewater Dish in 1998. She also reached the final of the 1991 Australian Open.