TENNIS | THE CHAMPIONSHIPS | WIMBLEDON

Guess Who Czeched Into London?

Women players from this landlocked country in Central Europe have impressed at the All England Club in recent years.

Barbora Krejčíková in action [Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons]

Linda Nosková was seen talking with nine-time ladies’ singles champion Martina Navratilova shortly after winning her maiden Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon. The 21-year-old is the latest player from the Czech Republic to win the singles title in London, after beating compatriot Karolína Muchová 6–2, 5–7, 6–3.

While Věra Suková (in 1962) was the first Czech woman to feature in a Wimbledon singles final, Navratilova was actually the first to win it. The Prague-born all-time legend won back-to-back titles in 1978 and 1979 playing for the erstwhile Czechoslovakia before representing the United States after switching in 1981.

Hana Mandlíková featured in two finals (1981, 1986), losing the second to Navratilova, while Helena Suková (Věra’s daughter) was consistent in singles, with a 39–17 match record. Besides, Suková was dominant in the doubles disciplines, winning the women’s doubles on four occasions and also three mixed doubles titles at Wimbledon.

In recent years, though, women from the Czech Republic have completely dominated the singles discipline at the All England Club. Three of the last four ladies’ singles champions are from Czechia, as the country is also known as. Besides, Karolína Plíšková also reached the final in 2021, losing in three sets to Australia’s Ashleigh Barty.

More importantly, the 2026 edition witnessed the first-ever all-Czech final at The Championships. It was only for the 16th time in the Open Era (1968 onwards) that the Wimbledon ladies’ singles final featured two players from the same nation, and the first since 2009, when Serena Williams beat sister Venus 7–6(3), 6–2, a year after losing to her.

So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the ladies who have added to the Czech success story in southwest London. Considering seven of Navratilova’s record nine titles were won while representing the United States, she has been excluded.

Jana Novotná (1998)

After two disappointing defeats in the final, the Brno-born player got the job done on her third attempt. Novotná defeated Frenchwoman Nathalie Tauziat 6–4, 7–6(2) to win the ladies’ singles tennis title at the 1998 Wimbledon Championships. It was her first and only Grand Slam singles title, to go with four in women’s doubles and one in mixed doubles.

One of the best players ever on the grass courts, Novotna should have won the trophy on her first attempt. In fact, she was on the verge of winning the title in 1993.

Seeded eighth and playing some of her best tennis, Novotná defeated fourth-seeded Gabriela Sabatini in the last eight and second-seeded Navratilova in the last four to set up a showdown with reigning champion Steffi Graf in the final. Against the top seed, Novotná was serving at 4–1 in the third set when nerves got the better of her.

In 1997, the Czechs had significantly better chances as compared to 1993 and certainly an easier draw to contend with. She faced top-seeded Martina Hingis and raced through the opening set (6–2). But the young Swiss recovered to win the final two sets 6–3, 6–3. As such, when Novotná finally managed to win in 1998, there was no player who deserved it more.

Holding the Venus Rosewater Dish was the absolute highlight of her career, especially considering Novotná had an impressive 50–13 match record at Wimbledon, making at least the quarter-finals in eight of her 14 appearances in southwest London. Novotná retired in 1999 and, unfortunately, passed away in 2017. May her soul rest in peace.

Petra Kvitová (2011, 2014)

It took 13 years until another Czech won the Venus Rosewater Dish. In fact, both of Kvitová’s Grand Slam titles were won at Wimbledon, first in 2011 and then again in 2014.

In 2011, she beat Maria Sharapova, the 2004 winner, 6–3, 6–4 in the final. Seeded eighth, she became the first Czech to win the title since Novotná and also the first left-hander to win the title since Navratilova in 1990. It was even easier for Kvitová in 2014. Seeded sixth, she conceded only three games (6–3, 6–0) to Eugenie Bouchard of Canada in the final.

In fact, her match against compatriot and 23rd-seeded Lucie Šafářová, 7–6(6), 6–1 in the first semifinal was more competitive. At this juncture, it is also imperative to mention that Bouchard, the first Canadian player to reach the singles final of a Grand Slam, had advanced without losing a set.

Kvitová finished with a 38–14 match record at the All England Club and a win percentage of 73, higher than her career win percentage (67) in the Grand Slams overall.

Markéta Vondroušová (2023)

The Sokolov-born player was in the news recently for a doping-related suspension.

On a more positive note, Vondroušová is the first unseeded player to win the Wimbledon ladies’ singles title. In 2023, after becoming the first to contest the final since the legendary Billie Jean King in 1963, she comprehensively beat Ons Jabeur of Tunisia 6–4, 6–4. Ranked No. 42, she also became the lowest-ranked Wimbledon champion in the Open era.

Since her triumph in 2023, the Czech has only managed to win one more trophy. She emerged a winner at the Berlin Ladies Open last year, a WTA 500 also played on the grass court.

Barbora Krejčíková (2024)

Vondroušová, the defending champion, was beaten in the first round by Spaniard Jéssica Bouzas Maneiro. However, there was another Czech ready to take over the mantle of the champion.

Barbora Krejčíková was already a Grand Slam champion, having won the 2021 French Open. In the 2024 Wimbledon final, the Brno-born player beat Jasmine Paolini of Italy 6–2, 2–6, 6–4.

While Krejčíková has an impressive singles record, it is also a fact that she can be considered more of a doubles player, considering the volume of her success in that discipline. In partnership with compatriot Kateřina Siniaková, Krejčíková has won seven women’s doubles majors, including the career Golden Slam. Besides, she has three in mixed doubles.

Linda Nosková (2026)

A lot has been written about Nosková’s triumph this year, and a lot will be written about it in the coming days.

So, let me wait for things to settle down a bit before I write an appreciation piece on the recently crowned ladies’ singles champion at Wimbledon.