Slovak tennis is experiencing a season of change, celebration, and candid reflection as the nation’s top athletes and legends gathered for the 2025 Tennis Player of the Year awards. The event, held on December 13, 2025, was as much about honoring current champions as it was about spotlighting the evolving landscape of Slovak tennis and the voices shaping its future.
Dominika Cibulková, a household name in Slovak sports and a former world-class competitor, graced the awards ceremony, but not with her husband Michal. As she explained, "Michal doesn’t like media attention and that’s why he often doesn’t attend social events. He knows the spotlight should be on me and gives it all to me. That’s how he wants it and I respect that." Instead, Cibulková was joined by her mother, Katarína, and found lively company with Peter Likér, the renowned sprint canoeing coach, who kept the table entertained throughout the evening.
The awards themselves were a testament to the perseverance and emerging talent within Slovak tennis. Rebecca Šramková, 29, successfully defended her title as Tennis Player of the Year, collecting her trophy from Cibulková despite battling a fever. Šramková’s achievements have not gone unnoticed, especially since she remains the only Slovak woman ranked in the world’s top 100, currently sitting at 72nd. Her resilience through injury at the end of the season and her upcoming participation in the Australian main draw have made her a beacon for Slovak tennis fans and aspiring players alike.
The men’s category saw a fresh face at the top: Lukáš Klein, 27, who claimed the honor for the first time. Klein’s spotlight extended beyond the court as his wife, Anna Karolína Schmiedlová, made her first public appearance since the birth of their son Adamko just two months ago. Schmiedlová’s radiant presence was a heartwarming highlight, symbolizing the blend of family and professional life that many athletes strive to balance.
Yet, amidst the celebration, the event also cast a light on the shifting dynamics and challenges facing Slovak tennis. Magdaléna Rybáriková, a former Wimbledon semifinalist and one of Slovakia’s most decorated players, recently spoke to Šport24.sk about her life after retiring in 2020 at the age of 32. Now 37, Rybáriková enjoys a nomadic family life with her Swiss partner Eric and their three-year-old son Lucas, splitting their time between Slovakia, Switzerland, and warmer destinations. "We usually come to Slovakia in October, head somewhere warm for a month and a half in January, spend two months in Switzerland in May, then a month back in Slovakia, and another two months in Switzerland. So we lead a kind of alternating, nomadic life. We’re in Slovakia only about a third of the year," she shared with a smile on the podcast Tipovačka s Fortunou.
Rybáriková has embraced her new role as a full-time mother, stating, "I can say that I now prioritize my son. We don’t have a nanny, and my partner and I take care of him ourselves. He’s not in kindergarten yet, and if needed, my parents help out. I’ve found myself in this. I admit that until I was thirty, I wasn’t sure if I wanted a child. I was only focused on tennis. But then it happened, and I realized I wanted a child."
Though she follows tennis less than before, Rybáriková keeps a keen eye on Šramková’s progress: "I certainly followed Rebecca Šramková’s results. She had really good results and remains in the top hundred. It’s a pity she had injuries at the end of the season. But it’s great she’ll play the main phase in Australia." Her perspective also extends to young talents like Mia Pohánková, whom she occasionally trains with, and Renáta Jamrichová. "Mia has great potential to break into the top hundred, and so does Renáta. As for the men, I haven’t seen any names that have broken through yet," Rybáriková noted.
However, Rybáriková’s reflections are not without critique. She openly addressed the Slovak Tennis Association’s lack of engagement with former players. "Sometimes it’s quite sad, and I talked about it with Daniela Hantuchová. The association never approaches us, former players, to mentor young athletes. Invite us to training, do something together. Everywhere else in the world it works, but not here. It’s a shame because I think we have plenty of experience to offer. There aren’t many players here who’ve been in the top 20 or 30. Even Dominik Hrbatý could give so much to our tennis," she said.
With the upcoming retirement of Igor Moška, the long-serving general secretary of the Slovak Tennis Association in April 2026, Rybáriková acknowledged his contributions: "Mr. Moška has done a lot over the years. He basically built it all up and started it. Hats off to his work. Maybe now is the ideal opportunity for change, since our tennis is stagnating and not moving forward." She expressed readiness to help if the new leadership shows interest: "If the new general secretary wanted to collaborate, I’d definitely say yes." Still, she emphasized, "We won’t impose ourselves if there’s no interest."
Rybáriková also touched on the transition from junior to senior tennis, describing it as a challenging leap. "It really depends on how mature the player is. At seventeen, you can already get close to the top hundred. In my day, by eighteen, we were almost there. The mental and emotional experiences of playing Grand Slams or WTA finals are things only players, not coaches, can truly convey."
Her engagement with the sport extends beyond tennis, as she offered predictions for upcoming Slovak football and hockey matches. With the football league’s autumn portion wrapping up and key hockey matchups on the horizon, Rybáriková’s insights reflect her enduring connection to Slovak sports culture.
As the 2025 season draws to a close, the stories of Cibulková, Šramková, Klein, Schmiedlová, and Rybáriková illustrate the rich tapestry of Slovak tennis—one woven from triumphs, transitions, and a deep desire to see the next generation succeed. With new champions crowned and candid calls for greater engagement from the sport’s governing bodies, the Slovak tennis community stands at a crossroads, poised for a future shaped by both its storied past and the promise of tomorrow.
