Tennis at the highest level is all about character, attitude, and the frame of mind on the court. That is why we enjoy the game so much. We like to see champions handle uncertainty, a sudden loss of touch, a tough point lost by a hair’s breadth, or changing their game plan on the fly to counter formidably skilled opponents. Skills, no doubt, are essential in the making of such a champion; however, what matters more is how they respond and conduct themselves in close contests. Yesterday, in the final of the Wimbledon Women’s Championships 2024, Barbora Krejčíková showed us how important all these characteristics are for a champion. More than anything else Barbora did on Center court during her two-hour battle with an able and spirited Italian opponent, Paolini, it was her mental strength and resilience that finally got her past the finish line. It is interesting that before the start of Wimbledon a fortnight ago, Barbora was not even remotely in the reckoning to reach the quarter-finals of the championships, let alone win it. She had had a torrid year beset with injuries and won just seven matches in the entire tennis season of 2024. Then, unbelievably, in these last two weeks, after a tough first round that she came through in three sets, something clicked: her confidence and composure were restored, and she won seven consecutive games to hold the most coveted trophy in the game. By any stretch of the imagination, this is an extraordinary turnaround for her.
However, for the twenty-eight Czech, today’s win is memorable not just because she managed to pull off the near impossible or because her name is now listed among the greats of the game in the Wimbledon Hall of Fame – which, of course, is the dream of a tennis player – but because this win is Barbora’s loving tribute and gift to her late coach, mentor, and inspiration: Jana Novotna, a Wimbledon champion herself, and one of the better Serve and volley players of her era. Jana died of Ovarian cancer in the spring of 2017, but not before she coached and mentally prepared Barbora Krejčíková to become the champion she is today. Most Tennis fans of my generation would remember Jana’s meltdown during the 1993 championships when she lost the finals from a commanding position to a young Steffi Graf. The touching images of a distraught Jana inconsolably sobbing on the shoulders of the Duchess of Kent eclipsed everything else that year. No one understood better the importance of mental strength and resilience than Jana Novotna did, and it was this critical quality that she nurtured and bequeathed to her protege in the four years she coached Barbora. In 2014, when Barbora was eighteen years old and still undecided on a career in Tennis, she and her mother knocked on Jana’s door on a whim to seek her advice. Jana observed Barbora’s talent and spotted a future champion. It was upon Jana’s insistence that Barbora decided to become a professional tennis player instead of pursuing her studies. The serendipitous meeting with Jana turned out to be a wise decision. Yesterday, after winning the final, Barbora looked up to the heavens after Paolini’s return of serve soared outside the line. Perhaps it was to Jana she was signaling—a silent message with a smile to say that she has accomplished what her mentor had wished for her, to climb the highest and the most prestigious mountain in the world of Tennis.
Over the last seven Wimbledon championships, the women’s draw has produced seven different champions. Out of these, six are from Europe, especially Russia, Prague, Poland, and Spain. Unlike the men’s draw, where Alcaraz, Sinner, and Medvedev are emerging as the next generation of champions, in the women’s league, there are no clear indicators of who those might be. After Serena Williams, whose explosive style dominated the sport for nearly two decades, the void is keenly felt. To win a championship is good, but to win consistently, across surfaces, and throughout the year is the key to greatness. Will Barbora or anyone else be positioned to take on that mantle? The question is open, and as of today, it is not clear if Women’s Tennis has that kind of champion among the top ten. As I said at the beginning of this essay, Tennis at the highest level is about character, passion, and perseverance. I wish that some of these talented ladies could transition to the next orbit of tennis excellence.
What can one write about twenty-one-year-old Spaniard Alcaraz? There is something extraordinary about him, and he is unlike anyone we have seen in recent years. He has the touch and grace of Federer, the power and focus of Nadal, and the doggedness and athleticism of the younger Djokovic. Beyond this, he brings a brand of passion, precision, and rollercoaster aggressiveness that is rarely seen in the sport. To possess such an unwavering focus at this young age is incredible. It speaks to his upbringing and discipline. I was watching Alcaraz after his win in the Semi-final. When the entire center court audience was waiting for him to come up to the mike for the customary post-match interview, Alcaraz took his time packing his gear. Instead of just dumping things into his bag, as he could have, Alcaraz neatly folded every towel and placed it inside with care as if he was packing a bag for a journey; he picked up every scrap of paper or used water bottle lying around the chair mindful of not leaving any trash behind him. Never once did he seem hurried in the act. It is that kind of self-discipline that has brought him to this level in the game. He gives every point his total attention as if it were the climax of the game. Men’s Tennis looks exciting in the years to come, with four top players at their prime playing fantastic Tennis. With Federer and Nadal retired and Djokovic nearly done, we look to Sinner, Alacaraz, Medvedev, and Zverev to carry the baton. The handover from the old guard to the new is full of promise.
It took Alcaraz two hours and twenty-seven minutes to wrap up the Men’s finals against Djokovic. For the first time in years, Djokovic looked his age on court. At thirty-seven years of age and a month after knee surgery, it was difficult for him to keep up with the pace of Alcaraz’s exquisitely angled groundstrokes, solid serves, and deft volleys. Except for a brief period in the third set when Alcaraz dropped his service game while serving for the championship, Djokovic was outplayed in all departments at all times. However, there is no shame or embarrassment for Djokovic in this loss. Very few Tennis champions in modern times have achieved what Djokovic has done, and it is arguable if anyone can even come close to his achievements in the years to come. Unfortunately, age plays a significant role in sports. A painter, musician, or writer can keep their creativity alive for as long as they want to, but not so for sportsmen or women. Their sporting career comes with an end date. The only question is when? There comes a time when the mind is willing and knows what to do, but the body fails to respond or execute the directive in equal measure. It is then that it dawns on the player that it is time to hang one’s boots. I don’t know if Djokovic has reached that stage yet or if he still thinks he has a year or two left to offer to the game he passionately loves, but the writing on the wall is clear. It is not going to be easy for him anymore to match up to the younger lot in the top draw. Each outing will inevitably draw something extra out of him, and even so, it may not be enough to win. However, retirement is a personal decision, and only Djokovic and his family can decide when the time is right. It was clear that Djokovic was not at his physical best during this tournament. He was lucky even to be in the final. And today’s performance may not be a proper measure of his fitness or game. Perhaps Djokovic may give it a year more to see if he can try for a ninth Wimbledon title in 2025. But that dream does look improbable with talent such as Alcaraz and Sinner around – who are significantly younger, equally talented, and voraciously hungry for success.
It was good to see Kate, the Duchess of Kent, today at the award ceremony. She wasn’t there during the Women’s final. It hasn’t been the best of years for her as well, health-wise. One of the abiding traditions at Wimbledon is the presence of royalty and the grace they bring to the concluding portions of the tournament. Wimbledon championships are not about the money ( which is substantial, of course); it is about being part of an unbroken tradition that values sportsmanship and honored customs over anything else. The color codes, the strawberries and cream, the overall etiquette, the freshly cut green grass that slowly wears out as the championship progresses, the celebrity boxes, the All England Tennis club with its hallowed history and memorabilia that spans nearly two centuries, the Winner’s customary night-time ball where the championship winners dressed in formals dance with each other – these and many other refined traditions make the Wimbledon championships one of the most loved sporting events in the world. Even those who don’t follow Tennis, follow Wimbledon. It is difficult to put a finger on it, but there is something elusively satisfying about this event that is hard to find in other sports.