Wimbledon champ Barbora Krejcikova tears up seeing late coach Jana Novotna's name on Wall of Champions alongside hers

Barbora Krejcikova wrapped up her fairytale run at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships by winning her second Grand Slam title. In the process, she emulated her former coach and icon, Jana Novotna, who is a former champion at the Grasscourt Slam.

Krejcikova faced Jasmine Paolini in the final on July 13. The Czech did not waste any time breaking through the Italian's service games and went up 4-1. She held on to her advantage and easily closed out the first set. Paolini, who seemed lost for answers, found them in the second set and forced a decider.

However, it was destined to be Krejcikova's day as she broke Paolini once in the third set to win her second Major title at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 score.

After lifting the Venus Rosewater Dish, Krejcikova was escorted by Wimbledon chairwoman Debbie Jevans to the ladies' section of the Wimbledon Wall of Champions, which contains names of all the former women's singles winners, and broke down in tears after seeing the name of the 1998 champion Jana Novotna.

Novotna was the first player from the Czech Republic to win a Wimbledon singles title. She passed away in 2017 at the age of 47 due to ovarian cancer. Barbora Krejcikova shared a special bond with her compatriot, who once served as her coach during the early stages of her career.

Barbora Krejcikova credits Jana Novotna for changing her life after Wimbledon 2024 title win

Barbora Krejcikova

Barbora Krejcikova has often credited Jana Novotna for her successes over the years and mentioned the Czech legend multiple times during her title run at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. During her victory speech after the final, Krejcikova fondly recalled meeting Novotna for the first time and how her life changed after that.

"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," Krejcikova said.

Krejcikova went on to attribute Novotna with helping her realize her full potential and transition from junior to professional. She also revealed an emotional detail about their relationship, saying that Novotna told her to win a Grand Slam title before she passed away.

"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. Before she passed away, she told me to go and win a Slam," the two-time Major champion added.