Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova have decided to reunite for the Paris Olympics after a cold split that sent shockwaves through the tennis community.
As a pair, Krejcikova and Siniakova – both 28 years old – enjoyed major success together as they have won seven Grand Slams in women’s doubles. But after the 2023 season ended – in which Krejcikova and Siniakova won the Australian Open – it was announed that they would not continue as a doubles pair in 2023.
Those news came as a shock to many since Krejcikova and Siniakova were still in their prime and widely considered one of the best doubles pairs in the world.
When the 2024 season started, it didn’t take long before they met as doubles rivals as Siniakova and Storm Hunter beat Krejcikova and Laura Siegemund 4-6 7-5 6-4 in the Australian Open quarterfinal. Moments after the match, Siniakova and Krejcikova had a very cold handshake.
— Andrew Jerell Jones, Luke 1:37 (IG:twdbk3) (@sluggahjells) January 24, 2024
Krejcikova and Siniakova set to defend their Olympic title
Three years ago, Krejcikova and Siniakova also became Olympic champions after beating Belinda Bencic and Viktorija Golubic in the Tokyo Olympics final to bring a gold medal to the Czech Republic.
After splitting as a duo, there was a legitimate fear that they would not defend their Olympic gold medal in Paris.
When asked to address the split and the chances of playing the Olympics together, Krejcikova said earlier this year that she was open to playing again with Siniakova and that it was Siniakova who decided to end things between them.
“Last year when we were splitting and she told me she wanted to go in a different direction, we brought up this topic [of competing at the Olympics]. This decision [to split] was Katerina’s, not really mine – I would love to play with her and I would love to compete at the Olympics with her,” Krejcikova revealed to The National in February.
“So, it’s more on her to actually approach me and to talk to me about it, to see how she feels. I’m very open to reuniting and playing the Olympics together, but it’s more on her right now.”