The Baseline Awards: No dry eyes after Barbora Krejcikova’s Wimbledon run

In the past 30-plus years, few story arcs—if any—in tennis have been as captivating or compelling as the tale of Jana Novotna at Wimbledon.

The Hall of Famer from the Czech Republic snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in the 1993 women’s singles final at the All England Club, before capturing arguably the game’s grandest prize five years later.

Read More: Barbora Krejcikova celebrates mentor Jana Novotna with Wimbledon win

Novotna retired the following season, and at one point in her post-playing days, took on the role of mentor and coach to a young countrywoman, Barbora Krejcikova, who was about to embark upon a professional career.

Tragically, Novotna passed away before seeing her protégé become a force in the women’s game, one that excelled in doubles first before making her mark in singles—similar to her own path. After capturing multiple majors in doubles and reaching the top spot in that discipline, Krejcikova made a career-changing breakthrough when she won the 2021 French Open singles title as an unseeded player.

Read More: Barbora Krejcikova reveals the funny piece of advice Jana Novotna once gave her

Since then, more Grand Slam titles in doubles, as well as an Olympic gold medal, had been won among multiple stints in the top 10 of the singles rankings. Entering Wimbledon this year, though, Krejcikova had shown few signs of being a contender for the singles title. A two-time champion in doubles, her best result without a partner was a fourth-round showing in 2021.

Seeded No. 31, Krejcikova barely escaped her first-round match before winning her next four in straight sets, which included back-to-back victories against top-15 seeds Danielle Collins and Jelena Ostapenko. In the semifinals, she faced Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, who, at that point in the tournament, was the heavy favorite. Krejcikova prevailed in three sets to reach her second career Grand Slam singles final.

In the championship match, she’d face the seventh seed, Jasmine Paolini of Italy, who had been on a fairytale run of her own. The recent French Open runner-up rallied after dropping the first set 6-2, taking the second by the same score. In the end, though, Krejcikova would not be denied as she won the third 6-4, clinching the prize her mentor claimed 26 years earlier.

Though Novotna’s greatest loss happened before she was even born, it was a lesson Krejcikova clearly took to heart as she seized the opportunity to add to her own stellar accomplishments.

She did, indeed.