Is Czech Republic’s Barbora Krejcikova receiving the credit she deserves for her performances on the WTA Tour?
The former French Open champion has already won 10 matches at WTA 1000 events this year and has recorded six wins over top 10 players since January. She is the only player to have beaten world No.1 Iga Swiatek multiple times in WTA Finals and has won six trophies since the start of 2020. To put that into context, only Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka have won more titles within this period. Furthermore, Krejcikova is also a highly accomplished doubles player who has won four out of the last five Grand Slam tournaments alongside compatriot Katerina Siniakova.
Given her success on the Tour, the world No.13 believes she has earned the right to be among those at the very top of the game as she questions the focus on three particular players – Swiatek, Sabalenka and Elena Rybakia. All of whom are current Grand Slam winners.
“When I read something on social media, it’s about Iga, Aryna, and Elena – I’m not really there,” Krejcikova told WTA Insider.
“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. I want to be mentioned as well. I want to be recognised 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.”
Whilst some might find it disheartening, Krejcikova is using her exclusion from the ‘Big Three’ as motivation for the season ahead. She has been ranked as high as No.2 in the world back in 2022 which occurred shortly before she had to take time away from the sport due to an elbow injury.
“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,” she continued.
“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.”
Krejcikova isn’t the only person who thinks she should be appreciated more on the Tour. It is also a view expressed by her next opponent in Miami – Sabalenka. The two have already locked horns on the Tour twice this season with their 2023 head-to-head split at 1-1. Both of those matches went the full distance.
“I was thinking the same, why everyone is saying it’s three of us? No, it’s four of us,” Sabalenka commented.
“She’s doing really well and playing really consistently.
“It’s four of us, I would say. I really want to see it keep going. I think we’re all going to do what we can to keep it going.”
Taking into account both singles and doubles tournaments, Krejcikova has contested 35 WTA finals and won 22 titles so far in her career.
