Barbora Krejcikova has continued the tradition of Czech players shining at the Wimbledon Championships. She recently became the fifth player from the Czech Republic to reach the final at the grass slam.
The Czech Republic has always been a consistent source of tennis prodigies turning into big stars. Many of them have done very well at the London Major over the years. In the Open Era, the Czech Republic has produced multiple Wimbledon champions and runners-up.
With that said, let’s take a look at five women from the Czech Republic who have played in the final of the Wimbledon Championships in the Open Era:
#5 Barbora Krejcikova
First up is the most recent entrant on this list. Barbora Krejcikova has enjoyed playing on grass, with two of her seven doubles Grand Slams coming at the Wimbledon Championships (2018 and 2022). The former Roland Garros champion found her groove on grass in the singles game this season, when she was seeded No. 31.
Barbora Krejcikova began her campaign at SW19 with a tough tussle against Veronika Kudermetova and barely scrapped past in a three-set marathon. The 28-year-old then swept aside Katie Volynets, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, Danielle Collins, Jelena Ostapenko, and former champion Elena Rybakina to reach her maiden singles final in London.
Barbora Krejcikova will now face seventh seed Jasmine Paolini in the title clash at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. With her run at the tournament, she will rise to at least World No. 14.
#4 Karolina Pliskova
Karolina Pliskova made her way into this list after reaching the final of the Wimbledon Championships in 2021.
The former World No.1 was seeded No. 8 at the London Major in 2021 and did not drop a set while defeating Tamara Zidensek, Donna Vekic, Tereza Martincova, Liudmila Samsonova, Viktorija Golubic, and Aryna Sabalenka to reach her second singles Grand Slam final.
Pliskova became the third woman from the Czech Republic to reach the London Major singles final and faced then-top seed, Ashleigh Barty. However, she had to settle for the runner-up trophy after coming short in a three-set battle.
#3 Marketa Vondrousova
The most recent Grand Slam champion from the Czech Republic, Marketa Vondrousova, occupies the third spot on this list after her triumph at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club last year.
Vondrousova bettered Peyton Stearns, Veronika Kudermetova, Donna Vekic, Marie Bouzkova, Jessica Pegula, Elina Svitolina, and Ons Jabeur en route to her maiden Major title.
She defeated five-seeded opponents to become the first unseeded player to win a Wimbledon title. Unfortunately, the 25-year-old could not defend her title in 2024 after enduring a shock defeat to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the first round.
#2 Jana Novotna
Czech legend Jana Novotna was the first male or female player from her country to win a singles title at the Wimbledon Championships when she triumphed at the grass slam in 1998. Novotna was seeded No. 3 and dropped only one set en route to her only Major title.
She defeated Sandra Kleinova, Tatiana Panova, Corina Mourariu, Irina Spirlea, Venus Williams, then-defending champion Martina Hingis, and Nathalie Tauziat to win the 1998 Wimbledon Championships.
#1 Petra Kvitova
Petra Kvitova is the most successful Czech player in Wimbledon history, winning the singles title twice in her career. Her first triumph in London came in 2011 when she was just 21 years old.
Kvitova was seeded eighth at the 2011 efition of the tournament, and registered straight-set victories over Alexa Glatch, Anna Keothavong, Roberta Vinci, Yanina Wickmayer, Dominika Cibulkova, Sabine Lisicki, and Maria Sharapova to lift the title.
Petra Kvitova’s second win at the London Major came in 2014. As the sixth seed, she bettered Andrea Hlavackova, Mona Barthel, Venus Williams, Peng Shuai, Barbora Strycova, Lucie Safarova, and Eugenie Bouchard to once again get her hands on the Venus Rosewater Dish.
Edited by Neelabhra Roy