“It’s definitely the best day of my tennis career and also the best day of my life,” were the words from Barbora Krejcikova as she lifted the glorious Wimbledon trophy. The WTA star has been making waves since the grass court season and it’s just the start. Amid high-stakes competition at the WTA Finals, she outshined some of the fierce rivals on tour. Keeping this in view, former pro-Tracy Austin couldn’t hold back from applauding the Czech player.

Barbora Krejcikova recently secured the final semifinal spot at the WTA Finals with an impressive 7-5, 6-4 victory over Coco Gauff. This win not only pushed her forward but also eliminated second-ranked Iga Swiatek from the season-end tournament. Amid the Wimbledon champion’s commendable surge, former pro Tracy Austin couldn’t stop herself from praising Krejcikova’s performance and unexpected rise. “Who saw this coming at the beginning of the tournament when she came in, she was barely winning matches. A new rule change by the WTA, she wasn’t even in the top eight, but they said if you want a major then you’re going to qualify for the WTA finals,” she said, in a recent episode of the Tennis Channel live podcast.

Austin continued appreciating Krejcikova’s strong opening win, saying, “That first set that she won against Swiatek, the first match that she played, that was the difference maker.”

Krejcikova needed to win against Gauff in straight sets to advance ahead in the tournament. Austin highlighted her focused play, noting, “The way that she played today, against Coco Gauff, had to win in straight sets if she was going to be number one in the group. And she did it, unbelievable.” With this win, Krejcikova finished on top of the Orange Group, while Gauff also advanced to the semifinals. Gauff, the other semifinalist from their group, will face top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, while Krejcikova is set to meet Zheng Qinwen in the semis.

Reflecting on her journey to the Finals, Krejcikova expressed her excitement about the season end. “I was definitely super excited to be here, to come here, to qualify to play against the best ones,” she shared, highlighting her improvement in form during pre-tournament practices. She added, “It’s a big thing that it’s the last tournament of the season.”

This rising phase comes after a prolonged downtime for Barbora Krejcikova. Right from the US Open, the WTA star had to go through multiple setbacks including her second-round defeat at the last grand slam event of the season. The struggles didn’t cease to exist even after that as the Asian swing brought more disappointments for her. While things seem to be on a rise for her, Tracy Austin’s comments appeared to be justified in all senses, However, it wasn’t just the former pro who showed confidence in the WTA star as the player herself dropped a bold verdict.

Barbora Krejcikova oozes confidence amid her exceptional WTA Finals run 

Barbora Krejcikova knows what it takes to surprise the world. Her success at Wimbledon marked a turning point as she secured a spot among the season’s top eight players despite being at the 13th spot. With each match in the WTA Finals, she’s making full use of this hard-earned position.

Krejcikova’s performance against Coco Gauff showed her impressive focus and control. She saved 11 of 12 break points, which depicted her confidence in high-pressure moments. This will be critical as she heads into the semifinals to face China’s Qinwen Zheng, who has also been playing in top form. “Playing again tomorrow was something unimaginable for me before this tournament started. I am very proud of myself,” Krejcikova shared. She admitted that she came to the Finals as the last player to qualify, facing difficulties and uncertainty. Her initial loss to Iga Swiatek disappointed her but she managed to keep her spirits intact, knowing she still had two group-stage matches to prove herself.

Krejcikova expressed reverence for her next opponent, recognizing Zheng’s great season. “Qinwen is playing amazingly. She is in the semifinals for a reason, she has had a great year in 2024,” she said. Still, her own confidence is clear, adding, “I feel like I have absolutely nothing to lose. I will go out there, play my best tennis, and aim for the final.” Krejcikova appears to be ready to bring her best game to the semifinals. Who do you think is going to win?