Krejcikova pays tribute to late coach Novotna after Roland Garros triumph

Barbora Krejcikova paid tribute to her late coach Jana Novotna after winning the French Open title.

The unseeded Czech player defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 to claim her first Grand Slam title.

During her on-court speech, Krejcikova said Novotna is “looking after me. It’s just amazing that I had the chance to meet her. She was such an inspiration for me.”

Novotna, a former Wimbledon champion, died of cancer in 2017.

Krejcikova became the first Czech woman to win Roland Garros since Hana Mandlikova in 1981.

She’s also bidding to become the first woman to win both in doubles and singles at the French Open since Mary Pierce in 2000. She and Katerina Siniakova have advanced to Sunday's final.