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Barbora Krejcikova is a fan of the unpredictability in women’s tennis after she turned a nightmare season around to become the latest surprise Wimbledon champion.
The Czech’s three-set victory over Jasmine Paolini made her the eighth different winner of the women’s singles in as many years, with the last seven all first-time champions at the All England Club.
“I think it’s exciting,” said Krejcikova. “I think the ladies’ tennis right now, everyone knows how to play and I think it’s good.
“I like it this way. It’s very unpredictable and I think it’s different. It’s nice that everybody has that potential and can believe they can be the next slam champion.”
Krejcikova is no stranger to grand slam finals having won 10 titles in doubles and her first singles crown at the French Open three years ago.
But she came into Wimbledon on the back of a very difficult run having struggled with injury and illness.
Since reaching the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in January, Krejcikova had won just three of her 10 singles matches prior to a three-hour battle against Veronika Kudermetova in the first round here.
She thoroughly merited her victory, coming through a tough draw that saw her beat four top-15 opponents, including former champion Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals.
“It wasn’t really a good journey coming here,” said Krejcikova. “It was a very tough period.
“I went match by match. I was just fighting through. I told myself that I will do everything to play the ball back and to fight for every ball and see how far I can go.”
Krejcikova has taken her mind off tennis during her time in London by sewing and building Lego sets.
“I can turn off my brain and just think about something else.” she said. “I like all the bricks. The more little it is, the better it is.”
The Czech particularly likes the architecture sets and is hoping Lego will start selling a model of Centre Court.
“I would love that, I would build that,” she said. “I hope they will.”
Krejcikova’s celebrations will have to be brief because she is entered into the Prague Open beginning on July 21 and has her eyes on another big prize later this month when the Olympics take place in Paris.
The 28-year-old already has a gold medal in women’s doubles with Katerina Siniakova from Tokyo, and the pair will be among the favourites again at Roland Garros.
“I’m definitely going to celebrate but I also have another tournament I would like to play in Prague,” said Krejcikova. “It’s my home country tournament so I would like to be there.
“Then after that the Olympics. It’s also a big goal for me to participate there and represent the Czech Republic. I love to represent my country.
“I experienced the Tokyo Olympics and it was something unbelievable, I really enjoyed the atmosphere in the Czech house and also meeting other athletes from different countries.
“It was very nice, definitely different to a regular tennis tournament. I’m really looking forward to that.”
