It was clear how far Barbora Krejickova had progressed psychologically from the moment she walked onto Court Philippe Chatrier for the women’s singles final at Roland Garros.
The Czech looked relaxed and happy as she chatted with the chair umpire and opponent Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova at the coin toss.
Her strokes flowed as she won six games in a row to take the opening set.
And despite a small wobble as three match points came and went deep in the third, she remained calm and clear as she executed her game to complete the biggest victory of her career.
REPORT: Krejcikova wins first Grand Slam singles title at Roland Garros
“I'm just really happy that I was able to handle it as I did, that mentally I think that was the biggest key,” she said following her 6-1 2-6 6-4 triumph over Pavlyuchenkova.
“I spoke with my psychologist again, and we spoke about it a lot. Like I just knew that as soon as I'm going to enter the court, I'm just not going to be panicking anymore. That was actually happening.
“I was really happy about that.”
She required the help of her psychologist less than a week earlier, when she was overwhelmed by nerves and doubt prior to her fourth-round match against Sloane Stephens.
She revealed that she did not even want to step out on the court, instead locking herself in the physio room and seeking the counsel of her psychologist as she cried. “I think I was just more stressed that I'm just not gonna be good enough,” she admitted.
In an incredible mental turnaround, she dropped just two games in beating Stephens when she did finally enter the court.
And that psychological fortitude kept shining through as she progressed through the tournament.
She saved five set points in the opening set of her quarterfinal against Coco Gauff, and did not panic as Gauff saved five match points in a brief second-set comeback.
In the semifinals, Krejcikova rebounded from 5-3 down in the final set, and saved a match point, before completing a dramatic 7-5 4-6 9-7 triumph.
And then there was the final, during which Pavlycheknova saved two championship points at 3-5 to force Krejcikova to serve for the title.
At this point, the regular conversations she had engaged in with her psychologist since the Stephens match proved invaluable.
“You're going to make it or it's going to come next time,” Krejcikova said was the direction she had received.
“She just told me just to go and enjoy. We spoke about how to talk to myself, what to do when I'm going to feel nervous on court. Like simple things, what to do.
“Also she gave me a lot of courage to actually go on court, just be happy that I'm actually there. Already I'm in the finals, it's a big achievement that nobody really expected, not even me. She just told me … just take it as a regular match, pretty much as a practice match that you just want to improve.
“Just go with this attitude and you see.”
Now she is a Grand Slam singles champion, and will crack the top 15 after being ranked outside the top 100 just eight months ago.
This meteoric rise will change everything, as last year’s Roland Garros champion Iga Swiatek discovered and openly discussed.
Krejcikova’s profile will soar in both her home country and beyond, while her media commitments, court assignments and other obligations at tournaments will change dramatically. She will also carry the inevitable burden of increased performance expectations, now she is one of the world’s top players.
However, she has learned important lessons regarding her mindset during this French Open fortnight.
And they will hopefully benefit her as her tennis career continues to bloom.
“I'm just planning to work hard again. This is such a big motivation to just work hard, enjoy this journey, enjoy tennis and everything,” she said.
“I guess a lot of things going to change. (But) I just don't want to change. I just want to still be me.”