Barbora Krejcikova: The Czech Tennis Player
Introduction
Barbora Krejčíková is one of the most prominent figures in contemporary tennis. Born in the Czech Republic, she has distinguished herself not only for her exceptional skills on the court, but also for her resilience and versatility. With titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, Krejčíková represents the Czech tradition in the sport, following in the footsteps of legends like Jana Novotná, who was her mentor. At 29 years old in August 2025, she continues to compete at the highest level, despite challenges such as recent injuries. Her career is marked by surprising victories and unwavering dedication, making her an inspiration to young athletes worldwide.
Krejčíková started playing tennis at the age of six and quickly demonstrated her talent. Her journey from junior to professional was full of achievements, and today she has won multiple Grand Slam titles. This article explores her life, career, and impact, highlighting the key moments that define her as one of the best players today.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Barbora Krejčíková was born on December 18, 1995, in Brno, Czech Republic. Tennis was a part of her life from an early age. At the age of six , she picked up a racket for the first time and began training at TK Ivančice, a local club. Her passion for the sport was fueled by family influences and the sporting environment in the Czech Republic, a country with a rich tennis history.
During her junior years, Krejčíková reached a world ranking of No. 3 in October 2013. She won women’s doubles titles at the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open in 2013, all partnering Kateřina Siniaková. They also reached the final of the Australian Open that year, coming within one victory of completing the calendar Grand Slam in junior doubles. Additionally, Krejčíková won the European Junior U18 Championships in Klosters, Switzerland, in both singles and doubles.
Her mentor, Jana Novotná, a former Wimbledon champion, played a crucial role in her development. Novotná not only coached her but also inspired her with stories of overcoming adversity. Krejčíková often mentions how Novotná helped her build confidence and technique, elements that became cornerstones of her career.
Transition to Professionalism
Krejčíková turned professional in 2010, but her WTA Tour debut came in 2014 at the Gastein Ladies, where she reached the doubles semifinals with Siniaková. Her first WTA doubles title came in 2015 at the Tournoi de Québec. In singles, she reached her first WTA final in 2017 at the Nürnberger Versicherungscup, losing to Kiki Bertens. These early years were a learning curve, with ITF tournament victories helping to build her confidence.
Rise in the Professional Circuit
Krejčíková’s rise on the professional circuit was gradual but impressive. In 2018, she reached the world number one spot in doubles alongside Siniaková, becoming the fifth and sixth Czech women to achieve that position since 1975. That year, they won the French Open and Wimbledon doubles, marking the beginning of a dominant era.
In mixed doubles, Krejčíková shone at the Australian Open, winning in 2019 with Rajeev Ram, defending the title in 2020 with Nikola Mektić, and again in 2021 with Ram. This three- match winning streak is a rare feat and highlights her versatility.
Challenges and Overcoming
Not everything was easy. Krejčíková faced injuries and moments of self-doubt. In 2023, she ended her doubles partnership with Siniaková, an amicable decision initiated by her partner. Despite this, she continued to compete at a high level, adapting to new coaches and styles. In 2023, she hired Pavel Motl as her coach, after parting ways with Ales Kartous.
Achievements in Singles
As conquistas de Krejčíková em simples são impressionantes. Seu primeiro título de Grand Slam veio no French Open de 2021, onde derrotou Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova na final. Essa vitória foi um marco, provando que ela poderia competir com as melhores em simples, além de duplas.
Em 2024, ela conquistou Wimbledon, derrotando Jasmine Paolini em uma final emocionante de três sets. Essa vitória foi descrita por ela como um “conto de fadas”, especialmente após anos de altos e baixos. Ela também venceu o WTA 1000 em Dubai em 2023, seu primeiro título nesse nível.
Outros títulos incluem oito WTA em simples, como San Diego em 2023 e Praga em 2024. Sua habilidade em superfícies variadas, especialmente saibro, a torna uma ameaça constante.
Olimpíadas e Outros Torneios
Nas Olimpíadas de Tóquio 2020 (realizadas em 2021), Krejčíková ganhou ouro em duplas femininas com Siniaková. Em Paris 2024, ela chegou às quartas de final em simples e duplas, mas foi eliminada na semifinal por Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.
Sucessos em Duplas e Duplas Mistas
Krejčíková é uma lenda em duplas. Com Siniaková, ela venceu sete títulos de Grand Slam: Australian Open (2022, 2023), French Open (2018, 2021), Wimbledon (2018, 2022) e US Open (2022). Elas também ganharam as WTA Finals em 2021 e ouro olímpico.
Em duplas mistas, suas três vitórias consecutivas no Australian Open (2019-2021) são históricas. No total, ela tem 19 títulos WTA em duplas e um em WTA 125K, além de 19 no ITF Circuit.
Após a separação de Siniaková, Krejčíková venceu Birmingham em 2023 com Marta Kostyuk e continuou a competir em duplas esporadicamente.
Estilo de Jogo
O estilo de Krejčíková é agressivo e versátil. Ela possui um saque forte, golpes de fundo potentes e um jogo de rede completo, influenciado por sua experiência em duplas. Seu backhand de duas mãos é particularmente letal, criando ângulos extremos e winners. O forehand com topspin pesado permite que ela ditar os ralis, e ela usa slices para surpreender adversárias.
Ela joga com “agressividade contida”, injetando ritmo inesperado. Sua movimentação, velocidade e resistência são excelentes, cobrindo a quadra com eficiência. O saibro é sua superfície favorita, devido ao quique alto e ritmo lento, mas ela se adapta bem a grama e quadras duras. Ocasionalmente, ela usa serve-and-volley, adicionando imprevisibilidade.
Vida Pessoal e Legado
Krejčíková reside em Ivančice, na Tcheca. Sua vida pessoal é discreta; ela foca no tênis, mas valoriza amizades e mentores. A perda de Novotná em 2017 foi um golpe, mas a motivou a honrar sua memória.
Seu legado é de perseverança. Com 12 títulos majors combinados, ela é uma das jogadoras mais completas. Ela inspira a nova geração tcheca, estendendo o legado de Martina Navratilova e Petra Kvitová.
Em 2024, ela lidou com rumores de gravidez e comentários depreciativos de um analista americano, mostrando resiliência.
Desempenho Recente em 2025
In 2025, Krejčíková faced injury challenges. She withdrew from the Australian Open due to a back injury. She returned in May at the Strasbourg Open, losing in the first round. At the French Open, she won her first match but lost in the second.
At Wimbledon, as the defending champion, she reached the third round, losing to Emma Navarro. At Eastbourne, she saved match points but withdrew due to injury. Recently, in Cincinnati, she defeated Madison Parks and came from behind to defeat Elina Svitolina in the second round, demonstrating her recovery. Her ranking dropped to 78 in July, but she aims to return to the top.
In total, in 2025, she has 5 wins and 4 losses in singles, with no titles so far.
Conclusion
Barbora Krejčíková is an example of determination in tennis. From her roots in Brno to victories at Wimbledon and the Olympics, her career is rich in achievements. Despite injuries in 2025, her skill and spirit remain intact. She is not just a player; she is an ambassador for Czech sport, inspiring global fans with her grace and strength. As she continues to compete, the future promises more exciting chapters in her story.
