Barbora Kejcikova takes one step closer to emulating mentor Jana Novotna with Wimbledon quarter-final win over Jelena Ostapenko – but must contend with former champion Elena Rybakina after No 4 seed despatched Elina Svitolina
- Krejcikova grew up in the same city as Novtna and served as her mentor
- 28-year-old has three Wimbledon doubles titles, but this is her first semifinal
- Rybakina is a formidable candidate on grass and the favourite for Saturday’s title
Twenty-six years after Jana Novotna won the Wimbledon title and seven years after she died of cancer at the age of 49, the woman she coached is just two matches away from following in her footsteps.
Barbora Krejcikova grew up in the same city as Novotna, Brno in the Czech Republic, and her enterprising parents suddenly showed up at the former champion’s doorstep.
Together, Krejcikova and Novotna built a subtle and cunning game that saw the 28-year-old reach her first Wimbledon semi-final on Wednesday with a 6-4, 7-6 victory over Jelena Ostapenko.
The Latvian had lost no more than three games in a set in two weeks and was racing through the draw, but Krejcikova disrupted Ostapenko’s rhythm and made 35 unforced errors.
Like Novotna, Krejcikova is a strong doubles player and has won 10 Grand Slams in women’s and mixed tournaments, including three Wimbledon titles.
Barbora Krejcikova reached her first Wimbledon semi-final after beating Yelena Ostapenko
The Czech player will try to emulate her mentor Jana Novtna (pictured in 1998), who died of cancer at the age of 49
Standing in her way is the title favorite – and 2022 champion – Elena Rybakina (pictured) who defeated Elina Svitolina in three sets
But the 2021 French Open is her only major singles tournament and she has never advanced beyond the fourth round at the All England Club, the scene of two defining moments of Novotna’s career.
In 1993, she collapsed in the deciding set against Steffi Graf from 4-1 down and wept on the shoulder of the Duchess of Kent; five years later, it was the same royal who presented her with the Venus Rosewater Bowl. A title for her protégée could be seen as the final act in Novotna’s Wimbledon trilogy.
The 31st-seeded Krejcikova will face Elena Rybakina in Thursday’s semifinals after the 2022 champion defeated Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-2. Fourth-seeded Kazakhstan are favourites to take the title, but Krejcikova has won both previous meetings and has the skill to beat Rybakina’s big guns.