Wimbledon champion pays powerful tribute to gay tennis icon and praises LGBTQ community

Barbora Krejcikova is the new queen of Wimbledon after her success in the women’s singles final Saturday.

It’s the second Grand Slam singles title of the 28-year-old Czech player’s career, and on either side of her three-set victory over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, she endeared herself even more to LGBTQ tennis fans with words of solidarity and respect.

Krejcikova was previously coached and mentored by the late Jana Novotna, who lost the 1993 Wimbledon final to Steffi Graf and famously sobbed on the shoulder of the Duchess of Kent during the trophy ceremony. 

Five years later, Novotna took advantage of her redemption moment when she returned to the final and defeated Nathalie Tauziat. She retired from professional tennis in 1999.

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@wimbledon When Jana Novotna captured the hearts of fans all around the globe #wimbledon ♬ Epic Music(863502) – Draganov89

Novotna wasn’t publicly out as gay during her career but her sexuality was well known within the sport. In 2010, she returned to live near her home city of Brno with her longtime partner, Iwona Kuczynska.

Meanwhile, Krejcikova was growing up nearby and impressing in the junior ranks. When she reached her late teens, she had to weigh up whether to turn professional, and on her mother’s prompting, decided to seek out Novotna for advice.

She wrote a letter and went to Novotna’s home to deliver it in person. Soon after, her idol agreed to coach her, with Krejcikova making her WTA singles debut in September 2014.

She went on to reach her first tour final in May 2017 — but tragically, Novotna passed away later that same year from ovarian cancer, at the age of just 49.

"I have so many beautiful memories and when I step on the court here, I am fighting for every ball and I am sure that is what she would want me to do."

Hall of Famer Jana Novotná, 1998 Wimbledon champion
Barbora Krejčíková, 2024 Wimbledon champion#Wimbledon | @BKrejcikova… pic.twitter.com/S4CqDg4REQ— International Tennis Hall of Fame (@TennisHalloFame) July 13, 2024

In the years since, Krejcikova has often spoken of the close bond she had with Novotna and the significance of that doorstep moment a decade ago.

On Saturday, after being presented with the Venus Rosewater Dish on Centre Court, she was asked to reflect on their meeting once more.

“I think knocking on her door, giving her the letter, during that moment, it changed my tennis life,” said Krejcikova. “During the period when I finished university, I didn’t know if I should continue and turn pro, or go to the way of education.

“Jana was the one who said I have the potential and definitely turn pro and try to make it.

“Before she passed away, she told me, ‘go and win a slam!’ I achieved that in Paris in 2021 — it was an unbelievable moment for me. I never dreamt of that, to win the same trophy as Jana in 1998.”

Novotna’s success 26 years ago took her into the ranks of LGBTQ Wimbledon singles winners alongside record nine-time champion Martina Navratilova and six-time champion Billie Jean King, both of whom were in the Royal Box Saturday.

Novotna was never as out as those two legends during her pro career but there were good reasons for that. Her obituary in The Times noted:

“In a quiet and undemonstrative way, Novotna was openly gay, but she was left traumatised before the Wimbledon final in 1993 when reporters asked her to confirm whether she and [Hana] Mandlikova had exchanged rings in a “gay ceremony”.

“However, her popularity and the fact that she was widely known to be gay has been cited as playing a part in winning acceptance for lesbian tennis players.”

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Amelie Mauresmo is the most recent out gay Wimbledon singles champion, having won the title in 2006, while in doubles, Sam Stosur won the mixed title in 2008 and came out publicly three years ago.

After Saturday’s ceremony, Krejcikova broke down in tears in front of the honors board when she saw her name alongside that of Novotna. Her admiration for her late coach would have been proof enough of her strong LGBTQ allyship but there had already been a clear demonstration of that before the final.

On Friday afternoon, Krejcikova held a Q&A on her X account and invited fans to send in questions. One fan asked: “What message do you have for your fans that are part of the LGBT community?”

She replied: “That they are amazing and brave” — adding the star-struck emoji.

That they are amazing and brave — Barbora Krejcikova (@BKrejcikova) July 12, 2024

Krejcikova’s connection to Novotna brings an extra level of emotion to a very special Wimbledon story.

And following her performance in the final, combined with her grace and humility, the Czech star is sure to have added many more LGBTQ people to her growing fanbase this weekend.

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