Saturday, July 13, 2024

Barbora, Jana... and Venus


The Jana on Barbora's shoulder was real, and now they're *both* Wimbledon singles champions.




Twenty-six years ago, Jana Novotna completed a hero's journey at the 1998 Wimbledon, finally lifting the Venus Rosewater Dish to claim her first and only major singles title. It had come after three previous losses in three-set slam finals (vs. three, like herself, future Hall of Famers), each defeat more crushing than the last, but none as memorable as the '93 loss at SW19 in which she'd served vs. Steffi Graf up 4-1 in the 3rd set before crashing in a stew of nerves and double-faults, never winning another game. After the match, she cried on the shoulder of the Duchess of Kent. One of the sport's great slam quests was born.

Novotna tragically died of ovarian cancer in 2017 at just age 49, but before then she'd crossed paths with a young Czech player named Barbora Krejcikova. After at first encouraging her to pursue a tennis career, she acted as the girl's mentor, and eventually her coach. She imparted to Krejcikova in first-person form the story of her long road to a Wimbledon title, and before she departed she continued to implore her charge to go for her dreams and win a major title.

It's largely because of what happened next that Novotna's memory continues to live on so vibrantly, taking on a brilliant form as the inspiration for what Krejcikova has gone on to accomplish, while the former pupil has also been sure to remind everyone just how important a role that Jana's motivation and tennis acumen played in it all.

Four years after Novotna's death, Krejcikova won the 2021 singles title at Roland Garros. But it was and always has been *Wimbledon* where the greatest Czech-born players have shined the brightest, with the lawns of the All-England Club serving as a "tennis heaven" where only the most fortunate could hope to "earn their wings."

Krejcikova's path to singles success was a late-arriving bonus to a career that had already fashioned her into one of the best doubles players in the world. Three seasons before she was crowned the women's champ in Paris at age 25, the Czech had already been the doubles #1 and won five WD/MX slam titles. But the decision to belatedly commit to having a go at singles success, as well, has turned the now 28-year old into one of the most successful and versatile players of her generation. A future Hall of Famer in her own right, with a trophy case to rival all but the most tranformational and hallowed figures in the sport in her era.

But for most of 2024, that wasn't the Krejcikova that we saw. Soon after a QF run at the Australian Open in Janaury, the Czech suffered through two months of inactivity as she recovered from a back injury and illness. She went four months without a singles win, and was winless during the clay season. Krejcikova even considered stepping back from tennis for a bit in an effort to refresh and restart. Turned out, all she needed was the grass season.

Though she wasn't averse to the surface, as some of her fellow players are, she hadn't been a demon on the stuff, either. She'd previously won two Wimbledon doubles titles (2018 & '22), but came into this year having never advanced to a QF in three singles MD appearances. She barely escaped the 1st Round this year, winning a three-hour three-setter vs. Veronika Kudermetova. But as the tournament progressed, Krejcikova gained her footing and her form.

A healthy and momentum-gathering Krejcikova in the latter stages of a tournament is no easy out (ask world #1 Iga Swiatek, as two of her four career losses in 26 WTA finals have come to the Czech). In her last three matches coming into the final, Krejcikova topped the likes of one of the season's hottest players in Danielle Collins, a former slam winner in Alona Ostapenko (in straights, after trailing 4-1 in the 2nd), and '22 champ Elena Rybakina (after the Kazakh got off to a blazing start, then was astoudingly out-served by Krejcikova in the final two sets).

Those three opponents had won a combined 109 matches this season, while the #31-seeded Krejcikova was just 7-9 on the year when Wimbledon began.

For her part, Krejcikova's fellow finalist Jasmine Paolini (the #7 seed), has been the revelation of the 2024 WTA season. The compact, 28-year old Italian with the hearty smile and heartwarming laugh, not to mention a big enough engine to rise, step by step, from #59 at the end of 2022 to the Top 10 (and, on Monday, Top 5) a season and a half later, came into the day having backed up her surprise Roland Garros final with another at Wimbledon, the first woman from her nation to ever reach the stage at SW19 and the rare one from anywhere to string together those two finals just a few weeks apart in the same season (the last to do it was in 2016 and she was named Serena -- perhaps you've heard of her -- and the only others in the past 25 years were named Steffi, Venus and Justine). In the span of seven months, she turned a 4-16 career slam record on its head to the tune of a 15-2 run (the best on tour in '24) heading into today's final.

The blooming of Jasmine, over the back half of this fortnight, had included a 4th Round escape vs. Madison Keys when the U.S. veteran injured herself after failing to serve out the match after having led 5-2 in the 3rd set (Keys retired at 5-5). Paolini then followed up with an epic, longest-Wimbledon-women's-semi-ever victory over Donna Vekic just two days ago.

The winner of the final was assured of being the oldest women's champion at a major through the first 18 held in the 2020s.



Th 1st set was dominated by Krejcikova, who out-hit Paolini from the baseline with variety, sting and precision, serving well and keeping the Italian on the run. Paolini continued to hustle, chasing down balls, but even her never-give-up tenacity didn't ensure that she'd win any particular rally in the end. Krejcikova broke serve to open the match, and would hold BP in every Paolini service game in the set. Paolini held twice, for 1-2 in a four-deuce game and just before the Czech stepped up to serve for the set at 5-2. Krejcikova held at love to take the set 6-2 in 35 minutes without ever facing a BP.

With her 2nd/3rd set serving run vs. Rybakina in the semis, this marked Krejcikova's third straight set without dropping serve after being broken three straight times to start the match vs. the Kazakh.



Paolini played the 2nd set with her charactistic energy. She served better, while Krejcikova played too defensively, had more errors and pulled back from many of her shots. The Italian held to open, then saw her first BP of the day on the Czech's serve in game 2. A deep return elicited a backhand error from Krejcikova, and Paolini had a break lead. She took a 40/15 lead on serve the following game, but consecutive UE and an inability to put away a ball at the net (Krejcikova ran it down near the changeover area and sent back a high ball that went off a reaching Paolini's racket) gave the Czech a BP. She couldn't secure the break, though, and Paolini held for 3-0.

With Krejcikova seemingly quickly falling away in the set, she fell behind 15/40 in game 4 before finally seeing the return of more intent in her game. Bigger serves and follow-up shots (ala in the 1st) helped her win four straight points to hold for 3-1. But Paolini held firm, holding in consecutive service games to maintain her lead at 5-2. Krejcikova seemed to be holding her own, and with a short bounce drop shot that spun just over the net into the near corner of the service box she knotted the score in game 8 at 30/30. Paolini challenged the call, and it was reversed to give her a SP at 15/40. Krejcikova fired a forehand wide and Paolini had the set 6-2.



Both players began the deciding set with formful holds of serve. Krejcikova, especially, seemed to have escaped the funk that betrayed her 2nd set efforts, though a particularly poor return game in game 5 from the Czech allowed Paolini a super-easy love hold for 3-2. Krejcikova rebounded on serve, extending her set-opening point streak on serve to 11 and holding for 3-3, having dropped just one point so far.

A Paolini backhand error put her down love/30 in game 7, and Krejcikova reached BP at 30/40. The Czech floated a ball long, but got a second BP chance, on which Paolini DF'd (after missing on a first serve challenge) to give Krejcikova a break and 4-3 lead. Krejcikova's dominance on serve continued as she fired an ace to lead 30/love following the changeover, winning another love game (16/17 points on serve) to lead 5-3.

Two games later, Krejcikova served for the Wimbledon title. The game turned out to be a version of Novotna's Wimbledon experience in microcosm.

Krejcikova opened game like she did all 26 in the match, by winning the first point. Soon the title seemed close (ala Novotna in the '93 Wimbledon final vs. Steffi Graf). Up 30/love, she was on the doorstep, only to DF (Jana knew the feeling). A backhand error gave Paolini a BP at 30/40, as the Czech's fate suddenly seemed to waver. The BP was saved by Krejcikova with a volley (serve-and-volleyer Jana knew that feeling, too).

A big serve and first shot produced a Paolini error, giving Krejcikova a MP, only for her to miss a shot down the line (Jana would have knowingly cringed). A big groundstroke and passing shot from the Italian gave the Czech another BP, which Krejcikova promptly saved with a forehand behind Paolini on the baseline. Krejcikova's ace gave her a second MP, but a backhand error delayed her triumph (you know the drill).

Paolini's error on a return of a deep second serve gave Krejcikova MP #3. As her third Wimbledon final was for Novotna, so was THIS Czech's third MP attempt the charmed one. Paolini was unable to get back Krejcikova's wide serve and it was all over. A 6-2/2-6/6-4 winner, Krejcikova raised her arms in victory (as Jana eventually did), and after hugging the Italian at the net, she looked to the skies and blew a kiss to her mentor, coach, friend, and now predecessor as a Wimbledon champion.



While Novotna's grasp of the Venus Rosewater Dish was a long awaited fairy tale moment at the end of a battle-scarred journey, Krejcikova's first experience felt like one of wonder and disbelief. A few months ago, a second major singles title seemed a distant dream (if not a fantasy), but as the grass season was Novotna's savior, so it proved to be for Krejcikova.



In her post-match interview, Krejcikova called today "the best day of my tennis careeer, and the best day of my life," and continued to be astonished about the course of a '24 season that saw her come to SW19 with seven wins on the season after battling injury and illness that saw her not win a match for four months, then proceed win seven straight at the All-England Club.



Attributing her ability to be brave in the final game for finally getting her to the finish, and after being asked by Annabel Croft about how as a young player she'd delivered a letter in person to Novotna at her door at a time when she didn't know if she'd pursue a tennis career, she called the moment in which Jana expressed belief in her chances and encouraged her to pursue the sport as having changed her life.



Though a triumphant Krejcikova had walked around the Centre Court grass with something of a dazed smile on her face, the enormity of her achievement finally caught up to her when she saw hew newly-added name on the Club's champions board... along with that of Novotna. She broke down in tears, and had to collect herself before meeting the assembled champions (Navratilova, King, Bartoli, Martinez, Sharapova... so tall compared to the others, my goodness!) and then parading the Venus Rosewater around along with her still-beaming smile on the balcony above the gathered fans below.



On occasion, but still rather rarely (in sports, or life in general), the proverbial planets seem to align, and the past and present seem to walk hand and hand. Almost as if the Tennis Gods let their old sentimental hearts out to enjoy the sun for a moment... but only for a moment. Novotna's win 26 years ago was one of those, just as Krejcikova's was today with all the personal connections and similarities forming a perfect bridge on which history met a moment and, ultimately, they joined together in a warm embrace.

As it turned out, the Jana on Barbora's shoulder was a Wimbledon whisperer, after all.










=DAY 13 NOTES=
...on the final Saturday of this Wimbledon, still more champions were crowned and finals set. One wasn't a surprise...



Diede de Groot's 6-4/6-4 win in the wheelchair singles final over Aniek Van Koot completes her 15th straight slam title run, gives her a sixth win at Wimbledon, her fourth straight championship at SW19 and her 23rd major singles title. She's won 52 straight singles matches in slam play (a streak which will now be extended into the 2025 AO).

The win ties her with Esther Vergeer for the most overall career slam titles (42) won by a woman, and she can officially become the all-time leader if she wins the doubles final on Sunday. It'd be her 16th career s/d slam title sweep, and could complete a clean 6-for-6 run of all the 2024 slam crowns.

*That* is something that de Groot has never done before, even in seasons with just three majors (i.e. 2020 when there was no WI). 2024 will be the first season in de Groot's career where there won't be a U.S. Open event, a Paralympics-related occurrence which hasn't happened since 2016 (she began her slam career in '17). She's come up one slam title short of a full 8-for-8 sweep three times thus far: 2019 (WI singles), 2021 (WI doubles) and 2022 (WI doubles).



...the girls' singles final will have a familiar feeling, as well. The two teenagers who faced off for the junior title in Melbourne earlier this year will do so again in London.



#1-seeded Slovak Renata Jamrichova defeated Czech Vendula Valdmannova in the semis today, while Australian Emerson Jones (#3) defeated Bannerette Iva Jovic.

No Slovak girl has ever won the Wimbledon juniors, while Diane Freeman (1980) and Ash Barty (2011) have done so while representing Australia.

Jovic will still get a shot at a title, as she and Tyra Caterina Grant will face Brits Mika Stojsavljevic & Mimi Xu (Mika & Mimi) in the junior doubles final.

...speaking of Barty, in her first return to the AELTC since winning the women's singles in 2021, she and fellow Aussie Casey Dellacqua will face Kim Clijsters & Martina Hingis for the Invitational Doubles crown on Sunday.

Clijsters and Hingis have won the title the last two years. Hingis has won it five times (both before and after her most recent return to the pro tour), while Clijsters (same, both before and after hers, brief as it was) has three wins. The Mixed Invitational will see Dominika Cibulkova/Mark Woodforde go against Barbara Schett & Nenad Zimonjic. Zimonjic has won the title in its two previous years, in '22 with Marion Bartoli and last year with Rennae Stubbs.

...in the final match of Day 13, the women's doubles champions were crowned...



#4 seeds Katerina Siniakova & Taylor Townsend defeated #2 Gaby Dabrowski/Erin Routliffe in a 7-6/(5)/7-6(1) final, as Siniakova won her second straight slam crown (after taking RG w/ Coco Gauff), her ninth overall and a third in her Wimbledon career. It's Townsend's first major title.

So... both Krejickova and Siniakova won a slam title on the same day. Just like old times.



...with Italy's Martina Trevisan already set to play Ann Li for the WTA 125 title in Bastad on Sunday, in Contrexeville it'll be Italian Lucia Bronzetti going against Mayar Sherif in the final.

It'll be Sherif's fifth final this season (1 WTA, 4 125). So far she's 0-4.







*WOMEN'S SINGLES FINAL*
#31 Barbora Krejcikova/CZE def. #7 Jasmine Paolini/ITA 6-2/2-6/6-4

*WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL*
#4 Siniakova/Townsend (CZE/USA) def. #2 Dabrowski/Routliffe (CAN/NZL) 7-6(5)/7-6(1)

*MIXED DOUBLES FINAL*
Olmos/S.Gonzalez (MEX/MEX) vs. #7 Hsieh/Zielinski (TPE/POL)

*WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S SINGLES FINAL*
#1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #4 Aniek Van Koot/NED 6-4/6-4

*WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL*
#1 Kamiji/Montjane (JPN/RSA) vs. #2 de Groot/Griffioen (NED/NED)

*GIRLS' SINGLES FINAL*
#1 Renata Jamrichova/SVK vs. #3 Emerson Jones/AUS

*GIRLS' DOUBLES FINAL*
#7 Stojsavljevic/M.Xu (GBR/GBR) vs. #2 Grant/Jovic (USA/USA)

*GIRLS' 14-and-UNDER FINAL*
Jana Kovackova/CZE vs. Keisija Berzina/LAT

*INVITATIONAL DOUBLES FINAL*
Clijsters/Hingis (BEL/SUI) vs. Barty/Dellacqua (AUS/AUS)

*INVITATIONAL MIXED FINAL*
Cibulkova/Woodforde (SVK/AUS) vs. Schett/Zimonjic (AUT/SRB)






...HMMM...WHAAAT??? ON DAY 13:



So, the IBM supercomputer felt that a former slam champ, coming off three Top 15 wins (including over '22 champ Rybakina), who has delivered Iga Swiatek two of her four career losses in WTA finals, had just a 31% chance of winning against a player who'd never won a grass match in her career until a few weeks ago, has won zero slams and two career titles (both on hard court)?

If it'd been 51-49 or something like that I could have seen it. But 69-31? Is this the same computer that installed Iga as the favorite heading into this slam? Does anyone actually think this "analysis" means anything?

BTW, since her latest early exit at SW19, Swiatek said that she knows what she did wrong: she didn't get enough rest heading into Wimbledon. She wants to take a short vacation between Paris and London next year! So, I guess more "rest" will lead to her changing her pre-tournament approach to playing on grass, or learn to temporarily shorten her groundstroke swings (ala Nadal) in order to account for the less time she has to prepare for shots on the quicker surface?

Sounds to me like it means *less* practice on grass, *fewer* changes in her game for the grass season... and likely another early exit (and more after that) at SW19 until and unless that ever changes. Perhaps an early loss in Paris (which almost happened this year) is what she needs to avoid being satisfied and deciding to focus on making it her goal to try to *truly* compete at one of the four biggest events on the schedule.


...WHEN HUSTLE ISN'T ENOUGH... ON DAY 13:




..."JANA NOVOTNA" WAS TRENDING ON TWITTER 26 YEARS AFTER SHE WON WIMBLEDON (hand to heart)... ON DAY 13:




...THIS HAS A VERY "Strangers on a Train" QUALITY TO IT, I'D SAY... ON DAY 13:






...MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU? MAKE IT SO... ON DAY 13:




...THIS CLOSE TO BEING THIS CLOSE... ON DAY 13:

Krejcikova's second slam singles win has now doubled what turned out to be Novotna's career total (though she also won 16 WD/MX majors), and she's also now on the doorstep of another short list of players with an "almost" aspect to their careers.

In the Open era (1968, combined with the weekly rankings era that began in 1975), only Hana Mandlikova (4 slam wins, ranking high of #3) and Virginia Wade (3 wins, #2 ranking) have won three major titles but never been ranked #1.

Coming into today, two other recent players had come up just short of joining them: Svetlana Kuznetsova (2 slams, #2) and Petra Kvitova (2 slams, #2). Krejcikova's second major title, along with a career high of #2, adds her name to that list. The #1 ranking might be a far stretch for the Czech at this point (but, who knows?), but a third slam might not be. The Czech is, in a way, sort of the "Wawrinka of the WTA," a player who has managed to win multiple slams (3 in 3 different slams in Stan's case, with a high of #3) while still sometimes flying under the radar due to bigger names and personalities.

Novotna, too, ranked as high as #2 in her singles career (she was doubles #1), but her lone slam win kept her from joining the group.


...ONE MORE THING... ON DAY 13:

...that came to bear today is that, I think, it's been clear for a few years now -- from how she talks in the many post-match moments, always acknowledging past players and their accomplishments -- that Krejcikova perhaps grasps and embraces the history of the sport more and better than any player today (Federer was always one to take similar actions). Whether or not this is due to her links to Novotna, it's nice to see because in this day and age of "instant access" to history at the touch of one's fingers it *still* isn't to be assumed that current athletes (or, you know, people) know or care whatsoever about anyone or anything that happened before their own personal consciousness of life, let alone bother to find out about it, learn from it, appreciate it and/or be able to make mention of it, whether prompted to or not, on appropriate occasions.

It's why history so often repeats itself, for both good and (all too often) bad. In this case, though, it was very good. I'm not gonna lie, I had a couple of those catch-your-heart-in-your-throat moments today just like I did back in 1998. I raised my arms (again) after MP just like I did when Jana won, too.

Also, one thing that's sort of been overlooked in all of this is that back in 1998 when Novotna won, she too was linked to a coach (Hana Mandlikova, who lost multiple Wimbledon finals) who'd had a difficult history at SW19. When Jana won it was a huge victory for her, but also for Hana.

As I said, history is often just a series of mirrors facing each other and staring back and forth.










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*RECENT WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONS*
2010 Serena Williams, USA
2011 Petra Kvitova, CZA
2012 Serena Williams, USA
2013 Marion Bartoli, FRA
2014 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2015 Serena Williams, USA
2016 Serena Williams, USA
2017 Garbine Muguruza, ESP
2018 Angelique Kerber, GER
2019 Simona Halep, ROU
2021 Ash Barty, AUS
2022 Elena Rybakina, KAZ
2023 Marketa Vondrouosva, CZE
2024 Barbora Krejcikova, CZE

*LOW-RANKED WIMBLEDON CHAMPION*
#42 - Marketa Vondrousova, 2023 (unseeded; only in Open era)
#32 - BARBORA KREJCIKOVA, 2024 (#31 seed)
#31 - Venus Williams, 2007 (#23 seed)

*AGE OF 2020s SLAM WINNERS*
18 = Emma Raducanu, GBR (2021 US)
19 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2020 RG)
19 = Coco Gauff, USA (2023 US)
21 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2022 RG)
21 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2022 US)
21 = Sofia Kenin, USA (2020 AO)
22 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2023 RG)
22 = Naomi Osaka, JPN (2020 US)
23 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2024 RG)
23 = Naomi Osaka, JPN (2021 AO)
23 = Elena Rybakina, KAZ (2022 WI)
24 = Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (2023 AO)
24 = Marketa Vondrouosva, CZE (2023 WI)
25 = Ash Barty, AUS (2021 WI)
25 = Ash Barty, AUS (2022 AO)
25 = Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (2021 RG)
25 = Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (2024 AO)
28 = Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (2024 WI)

*TCH/CZE IN WIMBLEDON FINALS - Open era*
1981 Hana Mandlikova
1993 Jana Novotna
1997 Jana Novotna
1998 Jana Novotna (W)
2011 Petra Kvitova (W)
2014 Petra Kvitova (W)
2021 Karolina Pliskova
2023 Marketa Vondrousova (W)
2024 Barbora Krejcikova (W)

*MOST SLAMS WON BY DIFF. PREVIOUS MAJOR CHAMPS (4) - OPEN ERA*
[1981]
AO: Martina Navratilova (3rd)
RG: Hana Mandlikova (2nd)
WI: Chris Evert (12th)
US: Tracy Austin (2nd)
[2014]
AO: Li Na (2nd)
RG: Maria Sharapova (5th)
WI: Petra Kvitova (2nd)
US: Serena Williams (18th)
--
2024: Sabalenka (AO/2nd), Swiatek (RG/5th) and Krejcikova (WI/2nd) were previous champs

*SLAM FINALS IN 2020s*
5 - Iga Swiatek, POL (5-0)
3 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (2-1)
3 - Ons Jabeur, TUN (0-3)
2 - Ash Barty, AUS (2-0)
2 - BARBORA KREJCIKOVA, CZE (2-0)
2 - Naomi Osaka, JPN (2-0)
2 - Coco Gauff, USA (1-1)
2 - Sofia Kenin, USA (1-1)
2 - Elena Rybakina, KAZ (1-1)
2 - JASMINE PAOLINI, ITA (0-2)

*CAREER OVERALL SLAM TITLES - ACTIVE*
[singles/doubles/mixed]
23 - Venus Williams, USA (7-14-2)
12 - BARBORA KREJCIKOVA, CZE (2-7-3)
9 - Kristina Mladenovic, FRA (0-6-3)
9 - Bethanie Mattek-Sands, USA (0-5-4)
9 - KATERINIA SINIAKOVA, CZE (0-9-0)
8 - Hsieh Su-wei, TPE (0-7-1)
5 - Sara Errani, ITA (0-5-0)
5 - Iga Swiatek, POL (5-0-0)
5 - Vera Zvonareva, RUS (0-3-2)

*SLAM FINALS - ITA*
2010 RG - FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE def. Samantha Stosur
2011 RG - Li Na def. FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE
2012 RG - Maria Sharapova def. SARA ERRANI
2015 US - FLAVIA PENNETTA def. ROBERTA VINCI
2024 RG - Iga Swiatek def. JASMINE PAOLINI
2024 WI - Barbora Krejcikova def. JASMINE PAOLINI

*BACK-TO-BACK RG/WI FINALS - since 2000*
2002 Serena Williams, USA (W-W)
2002 Venus Williams, USA (RU-RU)
2006 Justine Henin, BEL (W-RU)
2015 Serena Williams, USA (W-W)
2016 Serena Williams, USA (RU-W)
2024 Jasmine Paolini, ITA (RU-RU)

*MOST WTA FINALS in 2024*
5 - Iga Swiatek (5-0)
5 - Elena Rybakina (3-2)
4 - Dasha Kasatkina (1-3)
4 - Aryna Sabalenka (1-3)
3 - Danielle Collins (2-1)
3 - JASMINE PAOLINI (1-2)

*CAREER WOMEN'S DOUBLES SLAM TITLES - active*
14...Venus Williams, USA
9...KATERINA SINIAKOVA, CZE
7...Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
7...Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
6...Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
5...Sara Errani, ITA
5...Bethanie Mattek-Sands, USA

*2024 WTA DOUBLES TITLES*
3 - Cristina Bucsa
3 - Hsieh Su-wei
3 - Elise Mertens
3 - KATERINA SINIAKOVA
[2020-24]
19 - KATERINA SINIAKOVA (1/6/6/3/3)
13 - Barbora Krejcikova (1/5/3/4/0)
12 - Elise Mertens (1/4/2/2/3)
11 - Hsieh Su-wei (4/2/0/2/3)
9 - Laura Siegemund (1/0/3/5/0)

*2024 WTA DOUBLES FINALS*
5 (1-4) = ERIN ROUTLIFFE
4 (3-1) = KATERINA SINIAKOVA
4 (2-2) = Chan Hao-ching
4 (2-2) = Lyudmyla Kichenok
4 (2-2) = Nicole Melichar-Martinez
4 (2-2) = Ellen Perez
4 (1-3) = GABY DABROWSKI
[2024 finals - duos]
4...Melichar-Martinez/Perez (2-2)
4...DABROWSKI/ROUTLIFFE (1-3)
3...Errani/Paolini (2-1)
3...L.Kichenok/Ostapenko (2-1)
3...Chan HC./V.Kudermetova (1-2)

*RECENT WIMBLEDON DOUBLES CHAMPIONS*
2016 Serena Williams & Venus Williams, USA/USA
2017 Ekaterina Makarova & Elena Vesnina, RUS/RUS
2018 Barbora Krejcikova & Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
2019 Hsieh Su-wei & Barbora Strycova, TPE/CZE
2021 Hsieh Su-wei & Elise Mertens, TPE/BEL
2022 Barbora Krejcikova & Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
2023 Hsieh Su-wei & Barbora Strycova, TPE/CZE
2024 Katerina Siniakova & Taylor Townsend, CZE/USA

*RECENT WD SLAM CHAMPIONS*
[2021]
AO: Elise Mertens/Aryna Sabalenka (BEL/BLR)
RG: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)
WI: Hsieh Su-wei/Elise Mertens (TPE/BEL)
US: Samantha Stosur/Zhang Shuai (AUS/CHN)
[2022]
AO: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)
RG: Caroline Garcia/Kristina Mladenovic (FRA/FRA)
WI: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)
US: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)
[2023]
AO: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)
RG: Hsieh Su-wei/Wang Xinyu (TPE/CHN)
WI: Hsieh Su-wei/Barbora Strycova (TPE/CZE)
US: Gaby Dabrowski/Erin Routliffe (CAN/NZL)
[2024]
AO: Hsieh Su-wei/Elise Mertens (TPE/BEL)
RG: Coco Gauff/Katerina Siniakova (USA/CZE)
WI: Katerina Siniakova/Taylor Townsend (CZE/USA)

*WIMBLEDON WHEELCHAIR CHAMPIONS*
[singles]
2016 Jiske Griffioen, NED
2017 Diede de Groot, NED
2018 Diede de Groot, NED
2019 Aniek Van Koot, NED
2021 Diede de Groot, NED
2022 Diede de Groot, NED
2023 Diede de Groot, NED
2024 Diede de Groot, NED

*WHEELCHAIR SLAM SINGLES TITLES*
[AO-RG-WI-US]
23 - DIEDE DE GROOT, NED [6-5-6-6]*
21 - Esther Vergeer, NED [9-6-0-6]
8 - Yui Kamiji, JPN [2-4-0-2]*
4 - Jiske Griffioen, NED [2-1-1-0]*
3 - Aniek van Koot, NED [1-0-1-1]*
3 - Monique Kalkman, NED [0-0-0-3]
-
* - active

*WHEELCHAIR SLAM TITLES*
[singles/doubles]
42 - Esther Vergeer, NED (21/21)
42 - DIEDE DE GROOT, NED (23/19)*
28 - Yui Kamiji, JPN (8/20)*
27 - Aniek Van Koot, NED (3/24)*
20 - Jiske Griffioen, NED (4/16)*
--
* - active

*WHEELCHAIR SLAMS BY NATION*
[WS - 65 slams]
53 - NED
...23-de Groot, 21-Vergeer, 4-Griffioen, 3-Van Koot, 1-Homan, 1-Buis
9 - JPN (8-Kamiji, 1-Yaosa)
2 - GER (Ellerbrock)
1 - GBR (Whiley)

*RECENT WIMBLEDON "JUNIOR BREAKOUT" WINNERS*
2014 Alona Ostapenko, LAT
2015 Sofya Zhuk, RUS
2016 Dayana Yastremska, UKR
2017 Ann Li, USA
2018 Wang Xinyu/CHN & Wang Xiyu/CHN
2019 Daria Snigur, UKR
2021 Ane Mintegi del Olmo/ESP and Nastasja Schunk/GER
2022 Liv Hovde, USA
2023 Clervie Ngounoue/USA and Nikola Bartunkova/CZE
2024 Renata Jamrichova/SVK and Emerson Jones/AUS




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TOP QUALIFIER: Katie Volynets/USA
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #14 Dasha Kasatkina/RUS
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #4 Elena Rybakina/KAZ
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): #31 Barbora Krejcikova/CZE
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q2 -Robin Montgomery/USA def. #10 Kamilla Rakhimova/RUS 7-6(0)/6-7(4)/7-6(10-4) - no breaks in 36 games, only 5 BP face; Montgomery w/ 20 aces; combined for 132 winners (67/65)
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 2nd Rd. - #18 Marta Kostyuk/UKR def. Dasha Saville/AUS 4-6/7-6(2)/6-4 - Saville served for match three times in 2nd set, had a MP; Kostyuk break on BP #8 of game to force TB; Kostyuk wins on MP #5 in 3rd set
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 4th Rd. - (Q) Lulu Sun/NZL def. (WC) Emma Raducanu/GBR 6-2/5-7/6-2 - overcomes Brit on Centre Ct., first NZL to slam QF since '89; 52 winners
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.-WC): SF - #7 Jasmine Paolini/ITA def. Donna Vekic/CRO 2-6/6-4/7-6(10-8) - 2:51 long Wimbledon SF; first ITA WI F, first since '16 in RG/WI final same season
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: Varvara Gracheva/FRA (def. Lesia Tsurenko/UKR)
FIRST SEED OUT: #8 Zheng Qinwen/CHN (1st Rd. to Sun/NZL) (after #22 Alexandrova/RUS, #3 Sabalenka/BLR and #16 Azarenka/BLR withdrew)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Day 1: Erika Andreeva/RUS, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro/ESP, Sonay Kartal/GBR, Robin Montgomery/USA, Yuliia Starodubtseva/UKR, Lulu Sun/NZL, Anca Todoni/ROU
UPSET QUEENS: Spain
REVELATION LADIES: Great Britain
NATION OF POOR SOULS: ROU (1-5 1st Rd.; #29 Cirstea out, Bogdan 2 MP, no Halep)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Lulu Sun/NZL (in QF)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Emma Raducanu/GBR (4th Rd.)
PROTECTED RANKING: Paula Badosa/ESP (4r), Bianca Andreescu/CAN (3r)
LUCKY LOSER WINNERS: Erika Andreeva/RUS (2nd)
LAST BRIT STANDING: Emma Raducanu (4th Rd.)
Ms. OPPORTUNITY: Jasmine Paolini/ITA and Donna Vekic/CRO
IT "Kiwi": Lulu Sun/NZL
COMEBACK PLAYER: Paula Badosa/ESP
CRASH & BURN: #6 Marketa Vondrousova/CZE (1st Rd. to Bouzas Maneiro/ESP; first defending champ out 1r since 1994 Graf loss vs. McNeil; second in Open era)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF LONDON: #18 Marta Kostyuk/UKR (2nd Rd.- down 5-2 vs. Saville in 3rd, who served for win three times and held MP; in '24 slams has won from MP down at AO/WI, and 4-0 down in 3rd at RG)
DOUBLES STAR: Nominee: Olmos, Hsieh, Siniakova/Townsend
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Nominees: Barty/Dellacqua, Clijsters/Hingis, Hsieh
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: Renata Jamrichova/SVK & Emerson Jones/AUS (2 '24 slam finals)
SPIRIT OF JANA (NOVOTNA) HONOREE: Barbora Krejcikova/CZE (wins Wimbledon 26 years after former coach/mentor Novotna won in '98)









All for Day 13. More tomorrow.

posted by Todd.Spiker @ 8:43 PM 

4 Comments:

Blogger Diane said...

This is a beautifully written tribute to the Barbora-Jana connection and what it means--not just for tennis, but for the power of inspiration. I, too, found myself quite emotional after Barbora hit match point (I would also have been thrilled for Paolini, but this, as you know, was different).

I remember, when Jana was inducted into the HOF, I was disappointed that the Duchess of Kent didn't introduce her. Today, I was disappointed that Martina didn't present the Venus Rosewater Dish. I also remember, the first time Petra won Wimbledon, Jana and Martina were sitting in the box together, and a commentator declared them "proud parents."

Czech tennis is awesome. Here's hoping for very good health for the very talented Karolina--she belongs in the winners' circle.

Sun Jul 14, 12:16:00 AM EDT  
Blogger khan35 said...

Paolini had her chances when Krejcikova was serving for the championship and Krejcikova was nervous, but, instead of taking advantage of it, Paolini dumped a 2nd serve return into the net. Who knows what would have happened if Paolini had broke to tie the set. But, overall it was a good fortnight for Paolini. I would rank her in the 3rd position, behind Schiavone and Penetta, on the list of all time great Italian female tennis players.

Nice to see Krejcikova cross her name off the list of active one slam wonders. If she wins some WTA 1000 events then we could argue whether she is better than Kvitova or not. Winning a 3rd major will seal the deal for her..

Sun Jul 14, 04:57:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

D-

Thanks. ;)

Yeah, I was going to say something before the final about likely having a different sort of rooting interest going it, but I also didn't want to say anything against Paolini because it'd be great if she won, too.

(And, you know, losing a Wimbledon final would *also* further link Barbora to Jana, right?)


K-

And having Paolini 3rd is saying something, considering both Errani and Vinci reached slam finals, were Top 10 and won a Career Doubles Slam.

Looking at the stats, I have to say I was taken aback a bit (maybe just because it's been a while since she's played) that it's been TEN years since Kvitova's last slam title.

If you factor in WD, Krejcikova would already be listed over Petra, I guess.

Sun Jul 14, 09:26:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Diane said...

I don't like to rate players, but if we're taking a closer look at the Italians, both Errani and Vinci have records that will take a while to surpass. They each won 5 major doubles titles, and were both no. 1 in doubles. Errani got as high as no. 5 in singles, and Vinci got as high as no. 7. Vinci won 10 singles titles (no especially big ones), and Errani won 9, including Dubai (twice) and Rome. She was 21-12 in Fed Cup play, and Vinci was 23-8. And of course, each was a singles finalist in a major.

Mon Jul 15, 05:53:00 PM EDT  

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