Persistent back injury woes have plagued Barbora Krejcikova, the 2024 Wimbledon champion, casting a shadow over her once-illustrious career. The tennis star recently expressed her fears of a future plagued by chronic pain, hinting she may have to forego participating in future tournaments.
Krejcikova, 29, has been grappling with a continuous back injury that has hindered her performance and kept her away from the court since the WTA Finals in September 2024. The Czech professional tennis player recently withdrew from tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami due to her ongoing health issues.
The road to recovery has been a bitter pill for Krejcikova, who admitted to Sport CZ that her progress is slower than anticipated. She raised concerns about the possibility of never being completely free from pain, a circumstance that has caused her considerable distress.
Since her unexpected triumph at Wimbledon last summer, Krejcikova has participated in just four WTA Tour matches, of which she lost three. However, she managed to demonstrate commendable performance in the WTA Finals, securing victories against Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff to achieve a semi-final placement. This effort secured her a substantial $1,035,000 in prize money from the profitable tournament.
However, the future appears uncertain for the Wimbledon champion. With her ranking in decline due to her absence from the court, there’s concern whether she will be able to return to a comprehensive schedule anytime soon. The possibility of dropping out of the top 20 in the coming weeks looms over Krejcikova, and the pressure to defend her Wimbledon title and the accompanying 2,000 points adds to her worries.
Krejcikova’s health troubles began during the Olympics, and she highlighted the difficulty of transitioning from grass to clay courts in a short period. Recalling the physical toll it took on her, she shared how harsh weather conditions and prolonged matches impacted her strength and wellness.
二度のグランドスラム優勝者は、自分が崩れ落ちそうなほどの状態にあったと告白しましたが、自国を代表するために頑張り続けることが彼女にとって非常に重要であると語りました。しかし、彼女は、怪我をより良く管理するために、ダブルスの参加を減らさなければならないかもしれないとも示唆しました。
彼女自身の言葉で、クレイチコバは、自国を代表することの重要性を表現し、それが健康を犠牲にすることになったとしても構わないと述べました。彼女は、ダブルスのパートナーであるカテリーナ・シニアコバに、自分がプレーできないと告げることは考えられないことであり、それが早期の試合敗北を意味してもそうだと認めました。
テニスのスターは、年齢を重ねるにつれて、ダブルスの試合への参加を制限し、より選択的になる必要があるかもしれないと認めました。この戦略的な動きは、彼女が怪我を管理し、長期的にパフォーマンスを維持するのに役立つかもしれません。
このような逆境に直面して、クレイチコバのテニス界での未来は不確かに見えます。それでも、彼女の決意とスポーツへの情熱は揺るぎないものであり、慢性的な痛みによって特徴づけられるキャリアの可能性に直面しても変わりません。
