Seated at the Wimbledon Champions Dinner last July, emerging Czechia talent Laura Samson could scarcely believe the preceding couple of days.

A success in the girls' doubles at the All England Club when partnering Alena Kovackova had come as a surprise given how little experience she had playing on grass prior to Wimbledon.

The satisfaction of the triumph aside, the reward was one to remember, with the opportunity to attend the prestigious celebration alongside Kovackova a memory she will never forget.

“It was crazy,” said the 16-year-old, who was part of the Czechia team crowned 2022 ITF World Junior Tennis champions.

“I just couldn't believe it that I was like sitting at that dinner with Carlos Alcaraz and the other champions. That was amazing and I still remember the feeling.”

Samson, who reached the quarter-finals of the Roland Garros girls' singles with a spirited 7-6 (4) 5-7 6-2 victory on Wednesday over 14th seed Kaitlin Quevedo, is inspired by her nation.

It is with good reason, for Czechia has produced an array of role models for the right-hander to watch and learn from as she takes her initial steps on the world tour. 

After a triumph on Tuesday, for example, she bumped into Lucie Safarova in the corridors underneath Court Suzanne Lenglen and had a quick chat about her development.

The aggressive right-hander has also practiced with 2021 Roland Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova “a bunch of times” and is currently training at the same club as Petra Kvitova.

“My idol was always Petra Kvitova. I love her energy. She is like a lion, I think. In the Czechia, we love how much of a fighter she is,” she said. 

“I love when I see her practice or something and I really like her style of game, the head and spirit of her. I love that I am from Czechia and I have these role models.”

The 16-year-old, who earlier this year won three ITF W15 titles in Tunisia, Slovenia and Croatia, was introduced to tennis by her father David and spent hours hitting against a wall.

“My brother used to play tennis and I used to like watching him play and I always went to the wall by myself to practice. I was always really happy holding a racket” she said.

“I learned feel from the wall. I learned that at such a young age. I think my volleys are pretty good, so maybe it was that.”

Samson, who enjoys watching ice hockey in her off-time, has already enjoyed success at Roland Garros after winning an under-14 tournament at the venue two seasons ago. 

But she said the success did not match the excitement that comes with playing in a junior grand slam tournament.

“I have really good memories from that tournament, first of all. It was such an amazing atmosphere, playing at Roland Garros. it was so crazy for me,” she said. 

“When I was under-14s, I wouldn't really have expected to be third in the world. But I think it's amazing that I've grown so much and I want to keep on going, because this is just the beginning. It is the juniors (and) I want to go on, especially in the womens.”

Samson will now face Iva Jovic of the United States on Thursday for a place in the semi-finals. 

A full list of results from the 2024 Roland Garros Junior Championships in available here