Barbora Krejcikova’s ‘beautiful memories’ of her mentor, former Wimbledon champion Jana Novotna inspire her to final

Czech 31st seed Barbora Krejcikova has reflected on the ‘many beautiful memories’ of her mentor, the late Jana Novotna, after a shock upset win over Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina in the ladies’ Wimbledon semi-finals.

Czech Republic’s Barbora Krejcikova celebrates the victory Elena Rybakina in the Wimbledon semi-finals. Picture: Shi Tang/Getty Images

Barbora Krejcikova reached her first Wimbledon final on Thursday, hailing her late coach and former champion Jana Novotna for teaching her “to fight for every ball”.

Krejcikova, 28, stunned 2022 champion Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to set-up a title showdown against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini on Saturday.

The Czech 31st seed said she never imagined she would reach a Wimbledon singles final. She then became emotional during her TV interview on Centre Court as she remembered Novotna who died from cancer in 2017 at the age of 49.

The late Jana Novotna after defeating Nathalie Tauziat in the 1998 Wimbledon women’s singles Final. Picture: Paul Popper/Popperfoto via Getty Images

“She was telling me a lot of stories about her journey here and how she was trying to win Wimbledon,” said the Czech 31st seed.

“I was so far away when we had this talk. Now I am here and I am in a final.” She added: “I remember thinking about her a lot. I have so many beautiful memories and when I step on the court I fight for every single ball as that is what she would want me to do.”

Novotna was Wimbledon champion in 1998 but only after losing finals at the All England Club in 1993 and 1997.

She famously wept on the shoulder of Britain’s Duchess of Kent after the 1993 final which she lost to Steffi Graf.

Novotna had led 4-1 in the third set and was a point away from going 5-1 up only to serve a double fault.

Barbora Krejcikova fights back to tears when talking about her mentor post-match. Picture: Francois Nel/Getty Images

She lost the next five games and was defeated 7-6 (8/6), 1-6, 6-4.

Krejcikova will face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in the Wimbledon final after battling back for the shock 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Rybakina.

The Czech dug deep for victory against fourth seeded Rybakina in two hours and seven minutes on Centre Court.

Krejcikova faces seventh seed – and recent French Open finalist – Paolini on Saturday in what will be the second Grand Slam final of the 28-year-old’s career after her French Open triumph in 2021.

Originally published as Barbora Krejcikova’s ‘beautiful memories’ of her mentor, former Wimbledon champion Jana Novotna inspire her to final