'She has a big future ahead of her': Krejcikova backs Czech prodigy
Roland Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova believes Czech teenager Sara Bejlek has a big future in the game after the pair shared a court for an intense three-day practice session.
The duo were both on site during the ITF World Junior Tennis Finals and, with the start of US Open qualifying less than a fortnight away, were making use of the hard court at TK Prostejov.
Bejlek will take her place in the qualifying draw following a stellar season which has seen her claim three ITF World Tennis Tour titles, including two at W60 level, and rise to No. 193 in the world rankings. The 16-year-old’s ascent has been remarkable.
It was only in October that Bejlek was crowned a Junior Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas champion in Antalya as part of the victorious Czech Republic team - further evidence of the ITF player pathway's productivity.
Krejcikova, who is a nine-time Grand Slam champion across singles, doubles and mixed doubles, has been there herself, competing for Czech Republic at the 2011 Junior Billie Jean King Cup Finals, and believes Bejlek has the potential to make a sizeable name for herself.
“I see big potential and I think Sara has a big future ahead of her,” Krejcikova told itftennis.com.
“She is a really, really good player and is doing really well at ITF World Tennis Tour events. For me, it is good that I can practice with her on a good level and for her I hope it is good that she has the chance to practice with me.
“Sara really is on the right path and has a nice team, who are doing everything to make her better every single day, and I would just tell her to keep going, keep doing her best every day and keep believing in herself.”
An interesting fact about Bejlek is that she has a penchant for taking to the court in odd shoes, so it was somewhat surprising to see her training with Krejcikova in a matching pair of trainers.
Bejlek confirmed that her uniformity was simply due to her surprise at sealing a place in US Open qualifying and, at that time, owning just a solitary pair of hard-court shoes.
Her trademark look is set to return in New York, where for the first time she will bid to reach the main draw of a Grand Slam, while her meteoric rise is highlighted by her contesting just two Junior Grand Slams during her fledgling career.
“I have never been to America before and this will be my first attempt at reaching the main draw at a Grand Slam – I’m very excited,” Bejlek, who reached the semi-finals of the Roland Garros Junior Championships in June, told itftennis.com.
“I have won three ITF World Tennis Tour titles this season and I am strong in the head, which is so important for me. Those titles have given me so much confidence for the remainder of the season as I have won a lot of matches against good players.
“The ITF World Tennis Tour has helped me develop my game a lot. I have had a good start in professional tennis and over time I am starting to compete against better players. We will see what happens in the coming seasons.”
Like Bejlek, Krejcikova has high hopes of impressing at Flushing Meadows as she plots her return to the world’s top 10 following an elbow injury which has interrupted and truncated her season.
That said, Krejcikova, who is a two-time ITF World Champion, has still chalked up two Grand Slam doubles titles this year, at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and the 26-year-old is eager to continue her revival in fortunes.
“The beginning of the season was great and I started well,” said Krejcikova. “Then I got injured and it stopped me for a little while. I feel right now and with playing matches and practising, I am improving. I am looking forward to the last stage of the season.”