As a young player developing her game in the Czech Republic, Barbora Krejcikova never felt destined for Grand Slam success. “I never really felt like the player … that is talented (enough) to make it and to win a Slam,” she said ahead of her Wimbledon 2024 campaign.

Now Krejcikova, who won the Roland-Garros 2021 title in her only fifth appearance in the main draw of a Slam, is within reach of a second Grand Slam singles crown. “I think it's a great, great achievement,” she said after securing her place in a first semi-final at the All England Club. “Very honoured that I can be here. I'm super happy about performances that I'm showing on the court.”

Most rewarding for the 28-year-old is that this best performance of her career follows a period in which she won only two singles matches between February and June this year. There were times, she said, when she felt like giving up.

“It was super difficult. It was very, very up and down, especially with all the illnesses that I had especially this year,” said the No.31 seed, who battled through both a back injury and illness after her quarter-final run at the Australian Open in January.

“I felt like I started well, especially in Australia … I was on a good roll. Then, I don't know, just my body said differently.

“I'm extremely proud that I never give up and that I'm here, yeah, that I have the energy and the power to overcome this and to fight again and to play good tennis.”

That Krejcikova could retain such perspective is perhaps no surprise. “I’m not coming from the family that is like a sports family,” she said of her childhood spent in the Brno region in the Czech Republic. “It was more about education in our house.”

That approach contributed to Krejcikova’s development as a well-rounded athlete who can find the positives in most situations. As she waited during a rain delay earlier this week, for example, she engaged in a question-and-answer session with fans.

Krejcikova’s amusing personal insights – her dream holiday is Alaska “to see the bears”, she hates coffee and loves to travel on trains – provided a refreshing glimpse of the Czech’s lighter side.

But as she’s shown numerous times throughout her career, she’s also not afraid to commit to hard work.

Krejcikova first experienced Grand Slam heights as a junior, and then combined with fellow Czech Katerina Siniakova to win the Wimbledon ladies' doubles title in 2018 and 2022 - two of seven major doubles trophies she owns. She also lifted three mixed doubles trophies at the Australian Open.

Those performances helped provide the foundation for her singles success, she says. “It definitely put me on the big stage …with somebody, like with my partner. I think it gave me a lot of mental support, to be able to put it into the singles.”

Should she maintain her winning form at The Championships, Krejcikova would join a group of Czech champions that includes her late coach Jana Novotna (in 1998), as well as Petra Kvitova (2011 and 2014) and Marketa Vondrousova (last year).

“It’s very, very nice to be part of this, being back here in Wimbledon where we have a really huge history of other Czech tennis players winning or reaching very, very far,” she smiled. 

With a chance to join that illustrious group in sight, Krejcikova says she has surprised herself with her success at SW19.

“(I was) going through very tough and difficult moments,” she said, ahead of her semi-final against Elena Rybakina on Thursday, when Krejcikova will aim to claim a third win in three matches against the No.4 seed.

“I didn't really expect to get this far and I'm really proud of myself.”