Barbora Krejcikova has been collecting Wimbledon silverware since the then 17-year-old claimed the 2013 girls’ doubles title alongside Katerina Siniakova.
She’s also twice a ladies’ doubles champion with her fellow Czech, most recently at The Championships 2022.
With a 6-2, 7-5 win over Heather Watson to open her 2023 campaign, Krejcikova showed the potential to add singles silverware to that collection.
The 27-year-old already has one Grand Slam singles trophy, claiming victory on the clay courts of Roland-Garros in 2021.
But there’s added motivation at the grass court Grand Slam, where her long-time mentor Jana Novotna claimed the title in 1998.
There was a poignant response when No.10 seed Krejcikova was asked about Novotna, who died in 2017.
“Talking about Jana is still very emotional,” she said. “I spent so many great years with her. It’s still very hard to talk about it but I believe that she's somewhere and she's looking after me from up there, and I believe that she wants me to do well.”
The world No.11 had launched her third main draw campaign at The Championships with one of the toughest tasks in tennis, as she faced a beloved Brit on the All England Club’s No.1 Court.
The 31-year-old Watson, contesting her 13th Wimbledon, had staged some memorable campaigns at her home Grand Slam.
In the 2015 third round, Watson served for victory over eventual ladies’ champion Serena Williams, while a final 16 appearance in 2022 marked her career-best performance.
Krejcikova knew a strong start was critical and aided by the confidence from a runner-up performance on the grass courts of Birmingham, the Czech achieved exactly that.
Seizing eight of the first nine points, she held a 3-0 lead after nine minutes and, with her powerful winners flowing, she secured the first set in 35 minutes.
As patches of blue sky gradually emerged at Wimbledon, there were also some bright spots for Watson. And it was a hugely appreciative crowd who roared their support as she extended the battle in an entertaining second set.
Games remained on serve until the ninth game, when Watson produced some inspired tennis - a deft net winner, followed by a clever drop shot – to earn her first break points.
While she couldn’t quite convert, Krejcikova was tested, the challenge intensifying when she received medical treatment for an apparent foot problem after the 11th game.
But the No.10 seed was ultimately too powerful, her 22 total winners highlighting the carefully controlled aggression that shaped the match.
Watson saved three match points as she served in the 11th game but couldn’t manage a fourth as Krejcikova secured her victory after one hour and 39 minutes.
She noted the tremendous hurdle she’d overcome in a straight-sets win over the much-loved local star.
"The crowd just love her here,” Krejcikova acknowledged. “I'm really happy that I was able to get through and yeah, big credit for Heather because she has done so much for British tennis.”
Meanwhile, the Czech will take steadily growing confidence into the second round against teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva.
Earlier this season, she defeated world No.1 Iga Swiatek to claim a sixth WTA singles title in Dubai.
"I really see the season as a positive. I really think I’m playing really good tennis,” said Krejcikova, who is feeling increasingly at home at Wimbledon, where she reached the fourth round in 2021.
“Every single year playing on grass, more matches, I feel I'm happier with the grass,” noted Krejcikova, thrilled to continue her progress at a favourite event.
“Coming here, being here, it's a temple of tennis,” she smiled. “It's a really special place.”
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