Nikola Bartunkova, "I hate to lose, but I've never considered giving up"

Nikola Bartunkova, a 17-year-old Czech tennis player with an already impressive career, is determined to conquer the world of tennis. Born on February 25, 2006 in Prague, this passionate young athlete has a singe goal in mind: to become a professional tennis player and win a Grand Slam.

"My family plays a huge role in my tennis career," she says. Her father, a tennis coach, introduced her to the sport at an early age, and her sister, aged 24, also played tennis. "My mother started playing tennis as an adult, so she's not very good," she adds with a smile. "If I didn't have a family like mine, I wouldn't be playing as well as I am now. I'm where I am because of them. My family is a tremendous help."

On the court, Nikola describes herself as a player who likes to attack, go to the net and vary her game. "I have a good backhand and I've been working a lot on my forehand lately," she explains. "For the last six months, I've been trying to perfect my serve, which should be my strength – she's 1.82 meters tall. I'm a fighter and I don't give up on any ball."

His inspirations include names such as Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. "I really admire Carlos Alcaraz, I love watching his matches," she says. "And of course, Nadal and Federer have always been my role models."

When she's not playing tennis, Nikola finds balance by studying during the school year and using her free time to read, watch series on Netflix and spend time with her friends. "I try to think about something other than tennis," she says. "I also like cycling and skiing in winter, but lately I haven't had much time for that."

Nikola Bartunkova is friends with other promising players from Team Babolat, such as Sara Bejlek and Alina Korneeva. "I met Alina about two years ago at a tennis academy. I was training with her, and I saw that she had potential, a very good game and great shots," she explains. Nevertheless, she dominated her at Wimbledon before losing in the final.

"Sara Bejlek and I been playing together since we were little, we know each other well, and we have a lot of respect for one another."

When she's not playing in tournaments, Nikola trains in Prague, at her home club CLTK Stvanice, with the support of her father and her coach.

Nikola doesn't see her involvement in tennis as a sacrifice or a loss, but rather as a passion. "I hate defeat, but I've never considered giving up tennis. Being good at tennis and becoming a professional player has always been my dream, I'm enjoying it immensely, and I don't intend to give up," she says.

As far as her future is concerned, Nikola aspires to a professional tennis career and hopes to win a Grand Slam. "My goal? Winning an adult Grand Slam. Because it's the greatest achievement in tennis. Being world number one is nice too, but I think people remember you more when you win a Grand Slam. It means a lot to me too."

Team babolat pro players may play with a customized or different model than the equipment depicted.