Bach, Beethoven and Mozart: Jamrichova hits the perfect Wimbledon note
A popular question to ask tennis players is what music they listen to pre-match or on their way to the court as their answers are often quite revealing. For the record, Slovakia’s Renata Jamrichova opts for a classical playlist and, in particular, the likes of Bach, Beethoven and Mozart.
It is not that there is anything wrong with the 16-year-old’s choice of music, it was just a rather unexpected retort to the question which does tend to prompt a range of answers from the junior tennis-playing community.
“Classical music is my thing,” Jamrichova, who won the Australian Open girls’ doubles in January alongside Italy’s Federica Urgesi, tells itftennis.com.
“I listen to it on my way to the court as it’s really relaxing and makes me less nervous, so I like it. I try to play Bach, Beethoven and Mozart on the piano too, but it is hard.
“But I definitely like listening to classical music before a match. My game is aggressive and the music relaxing, so it suits me.”
View this post on Instagram
Her sounds are clearly working for Jamrichova and earlier today the left-hander sealed her maiden Wimbledon match-win at the Junior Championships following a powerful 6-0 6-4 victory over Romania’s Mara Gae.
This follows the talented teenager last week topping the podium in the girls’ singles at J300 Roehampton, which acts as the traditional grass-court warm-up event for the Junior Championships.
Jamrichova looked comfortable and indeed commanding on grass, which is still something of an alien surface to her, although in the final she was handed a walkover after Tereza Valentova of Czechia withdrew with a groin injury.
Her triumph at Roehampton could well prove significant as seven of the last 10 girls’ champions there, including Eugenie Bouchard, Belinda Bencic and Jelena Ostapenko, have proceeded to triumph at Wimbledon.
“I feel really good on grass now,” said Jamrichova, “My serve is the best it has been and I say that I feel really confident. Hard court is still my favourite surface but I do feel comfortable on grass now. Grass is fast and low, and it is good for me.”
Jamrichova hit the headlines in October 2022 when she was included within her nation’s squad for the following month’s Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals in Glasgow, further underlining her potential.
View this post on Instagram
Indeed, had she made her competition debut for Slovakia at those Finals, she would have become the youngest Slovakian player to feature in Billie Jean King Cup. As it is, Dominika Cibulkova retains the record at 16 years and 65 days.
“It was such a surprise to me that our captain nominated me,” added Jamrichova. “It was so nice to see all the big players and watch them play their matches. I would love to play at that level one day. It would be a big experience and it’s what I’m aiming to do.”
While the immediate hurdle is a second-round showdown with either Ariana Anazagasty-Pursoo of the United States or Great British wild card Daniela Piani, Jamrichova would appear to have a promising future.
A full list of results from the 2023 Junior Championships, Wimbledon is available here.