Krejcikova has just come through a tough period. A series of injuries sidelined her for several months, which also meant she dropped into the eighties in the world rankings. Now, step by step, she’s making her way back among the elite, and former Czech Davis Cup player Jiri Novak is helping her on that journey.
"That drop in the rankings wasn’t some kind of crisis, just a direct result of those injuries. Bara is still an incredible player who has the desire to win something big again," says the former world number five.
You’ve been closely following Barbora’s comeback. Did you expect that after those tough months she’d be able to return so quickly and start winning tournaments again?
"That’s not something you can answer in a single sentence, it’s a longer story. Bara called me a year and a quarter ago, saying she didn’t have a coach and wanted to try working with me. And when we met, I immediately knew I wanted to do it."
What did she tell you back then?
"She was motivated to achieve something big again. There’s no need to talk about her technical and playing skills. She’s already proven to everyone what kind of player she is, with everything she’s won."
But there was uncertainty about her health…
"Yes, with Bara, that’s always the alpha and omega. But we knew that if she stayed healthy, the results would come again. And it was clear. The progress was gradual, she was coming back after a herniated disc, so it took a few weeks, or rather months, before she got back into match rhythm.
"But already last year in America, things started to look up. She made the third round in Cincinnati and the quarter-finals at the US Open. Then we went to Asia, where she reached the quarter-finals in Seoul."
But then in September in Beijing, another injury happened…
"Yes… In the third round, she suffered a fracture in her knee. She hyperextended her leg and it turned into a serious injury. So basically, she couldn’t play again. Of course, it was tough for her. First, she didn’t play for half a year, and then again, out of the last 10 months, she missed seven."
Still, this year she’s proving her class again. At Wimbledon, she knocked out Mirra Andreeva. Most recently, she triumphed in Athens, just before the Prague tournament.
"She’s a brutal player. I believe that if she’s healthy, match-fit, and confident, she’ll be a real threat to all her opponents and can definitely win something big again."
How tough was the transfer from Greece?
"Of course, she was a bit worried about how the demanding schedule would affect her body. She did extremely well in Athens, but then the rush began. She finished at quarter to eleven at night, then came the awards ceremony, press conference, and all sorts of things, and if she got an hour of sleep, that was a lot.
"She only caught up on sleep in Prague. And by Tuesday, she had to play again. Naturally, after everything she’s been through recently, she’s worried about her health. She’s cautious. But she’s also a pro. The match with Linda Fruhvirtova wasn’t easy. But she came, played, turned the score around. And won. Honestly, it’s just incredible."
Given the demanding schedule, many people speculated whether she might skip Prague…
"No, not at all. We’d planned Prague a long time in advance. This tournament was on the schedule because she hadn’t played enough matches. She needs to get into rhythm, find her confidence.
"And another reason was that it’s in Prague and she loves playing in the Czech Republic. So she didn’t even consider withdrawing from Prague after her triumph in Athens, not for a second."
It’s true that out of her nine titles, two are from Grand Slams and another two are from Prague and Ostrava...
"Exactly. When we talked about these emotions, she told me that, for example, she didn’t really enjoy her first Grand Slam in Paris at all, because it was during the Covid year and there wasn’t a soul there. She raised her arms and saw empty stands.
"Her much stronger memories are from Ostrava, where she beat Iga Swiatek and there were nine thousand people and a wild atmosphere. You know, the Czech Republic is important to her. I feel that she really loves playing in front of Czech fans."
You had it similar. You experienced a time when Davis Cup matches were played much more often in front of home crowds.
"Absolutely! My best memories are from Davis Cups. We played in Ostrava, Brno, or here at Stvanice. And when the stands are chanting your name? That’s what tennis is all about..."
For her, this big Stvanice court must have been a motivation too, since she’d never played here before. You could tell her about it…
"I absolutely love this arena! I’ve known it since I played here as a junior. Then I played and won a challenger here. Then I played an ATP tournament here, and for the match with Bruguera, it was completely packed. I experienced a Davis Cup here against South Africa.
"For me, it’s simply an iconic court. It’s the most beautiful tennis arena we have in the Czech Republic. And I’m really glad the tournament is played here, even though it’s organised by Sparta. But those temporary stands in Stromovka just can’t replace this beautiful venue. I really enjoy it here."