How Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka’s rise disturbed Barbora Krejcikova: Snub that made Wimbledon 2024 semifinalist fight for her merit
Barbora Krejcikova and Elena Rybakina will face off in the semifinals of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. The 2022 Wimbledon champion, Elena Rybakina, is considered a heavy favorite to win the grass major this year. However, she is likely to find her equal in Krejcikova who leads their head-to-head at 2-0.
Krejcikova also stands equal in her head-to-head against Iga Swiatek at 2-2. What is remarkable is that both of Krejcikova’s wins against the World No. 1 came in the finals, one at the 2022 Ostrava Open and the other at 2023 Dubai International. This is a feat that no other player can boast of.In her 2023 Dubai International title win against Swiatek, the Czech defeated Jessica Pegula and Aryna Sabalenka en route to the finals, becoming only the fifth player in WTA history to beat the top 3 players in a single tournament.
Barbora Krejcikova, the 2021 French Open women’s singles champion, has claimed seven Major titles along with her partner Kateřina Siniaková in doubles, too. The duo had a dream run in 2022, winning the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open to complete their Career Slams. To top it off, Krejcikova has also won three mixed doubles Grand Slam titles.However, Krejcikova feels left out when it comes to discussions on top WTA players. Speaking to the WTA before her fourth-round loss to Aryna Sabalenka back in the 2023 Miami Open, the World No. 32 felt overlooked.
“When I read something on social media, it’s about Iga, Aryna, and Elena — I’m not really there. What else should I do? How should I prove it again? This week, again I’m here and I’m going to prove it again so that I get into this Top 3,” Barbora Krejcikova said. “I want to be mentioned as well. I want to be recognized as well because I think I deserve it. I’ve had a lot of success on the tour and I just don’t get the credit.”
Krejcikova highlighted that she had also earned her place alongside Iga Swiatek, who had won three Grand Slam titles at the time, and Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina who had won one each. Since then, Swiatek has lifted two more French Open trophies (2023 and 2024), and Sabalenka is the reigning Australian Open champion.While being respectful of her peers’ achievements, Krejcikova expressed her displeasure at being snubbed by the media.
“It’s a big motivation. I don’t want to be forgotten somewhere in the shade of these three big players. They are playing well and are playing great, but I feel I’m playing well as well,” Barbora Krejcikova said. “I feel like I deserve the recognition from the media and I’m not getting it. I guess I just have to win more matches and prove to everybody that I’m there as well.”
In reaching the semifinals of 2024 Wimbledon against Elena Rybakina, Barbora Krejcikova displayed some of her finest tennis skills backing her words with actions.
Barbora Krejcikova doubled down on her claim about upcoming Wimbledon opponent Elena Rybakina alongside Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka a few weeks later
In May last year, Barbora Krejcikova reflected on her statements back at the 2023 Miami Open and stood by them. She added that it was not just about her but all other players outside of the top 3 players – Swiatek, Sabalenka, and Elena Rybakina, who had merits of their own. She also spoke about the uneven attention given to players by the media.
“Those three are such good players, but everything was about them. I didn’t really understand why it’s not about other players as well. Why is it only just three names, but not about other players that are playing well and are really consistent and having really good results? They are not mentioned anywhere,” she said as per Eurosport.
“I’m not just saying that because I want some kind of attention. I just felt like ‘Hello, guys!’ I played really well in Dubai and I beat all the players. So why does nobody know about it?”
Barbora Krejcikova will walk into Centre Court at Wimbledon to face Elena Rybakina for a spot in the finals on Thursday, July 11.
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