Barbora Krejcikova was born on December 18, 1995, in Brno, Czech Republic, to Karel Hradecky and Pavla Hradecka. She began playing tennis at the age of 6 and was later coached and mentored by WTA legend Jana Novotna.
Krejcikova had a successful junior career and won many titles in singles. She was even more successful in doubles, claiming junior Grand Slams at the Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open alongside Katerina Siniakova. In singles, it took Krejcikova some time to have consistent success.
The Czech did have a shock run to the final of the Nuremberg Cup in 2017 and also won the Billie Jean King Cup in 2018. However, she only qualified for one Grand Slam singles event before 2020. 2021 was when Krejcikova had a major breakthrough.
She progressed to a maiden WTA 1000 final in Dubai, losing out to Garbine Muguruza. A first WTA title came on the clay courts of Strasbourg, and she also won another WTA 250 title on home soil in Prague in July.
However, the 2021 French Open brought incredible and unexpected glory for Krejcikova. The Czech defeated compatriot Karolina Pliskova and Ekaterina Alexandrova before knocking out a four-time quarterfinalist in Paris, Elina Svitolina in the third round.
Krejcikova then dropped just two games in the fourth round against former finalist at Roland Garros, Sloane Stephens. A quarterfinal victory followed against future Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff, before winning an incredible semifinal battle with Maria Sakkari, 9-7 in the third set to reach the final.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova stood between her and the title. The final went to three sets, but Krejcikova prevailed 6-1 2-6 6-4 to claim an amazing and unexpected maiden Grand Slam singles title. Krejcikova has continued to have solid results since that mammoth achievement.
She won her first WTA 1000 title in 2023 in Dubai, courtesy of a hugely impressive final triumph over world No. 1 Iga Swiatek. Her results in 2023 saw her end the year ranked inside the Top 10. The Czech has reached three more Grand Slam quarterfinals since her memorable triumph at the French Open, and her complete style of tennis continues to make her a formidable opponent.
Krejcikova has also established herself as a legend in doubles. Alongside compatriot Katerina Siniakova, they have won seven Grand Slam doubles titles until the 2023 US Open, when they stopped their partnership. The pair is one of the most successful doubles teams of all time.
