Barbora Krejcikova helped give the Czech Republic a 2-0 lead over Ukraine in their Billie Jean King Cup qualifier at Antalya, Turkey, on Friday, then announced she would be donating her prize money to help earthquake relief efforts in the country hosting the matches.
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck parts of Turkey and Syria in February, killing more than 50,000 — the vast majority in Turkey — and leaving millions homeless.
"It's very sad, and I would like to help the young tennis players that lost everything," said Krejcikova, the 2021 French Open singles champion and owner of a career Grand Slam in doubles. "I have friends among the Turkish players who connected me with the Turkish federation. They have a project that they are planning to do, and I am honored I can help somewhere."
She earned her first career BJK Cup singles victory, 6-4, 6-3 over Katarina Zavatska, after 2019 French Open runner-up Marketa Vondrousova defeated Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-1. The Czech Republic needs to win just one of what could be as many as three matches Saturday to clinch the best-of-five qualifier.
The countries were supposed to play each other in Ukraine, but the matches were moved because of the war there that began when Russia invaded in February 2022.